The Usda & Dietary Analysis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that Americans savor and enjoy their food. This suggestion follows one of the tenets of a healthy Mediterranean diet that emphasizes enjoying meals with others as well as eating lots of plant-based foods, fish, herbs and spices, olive oil and wine in moderation. Since 1980, the USDA has studied American eating patterns and has issued dietary recommendations for health professionals and average Americans alike.

Past Guidelines

Since 1980, the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services have appointed a task force every five years to analyze information from a variety of health sources. The task forces develop scientifically based conclusions and recommendations about the health and diet of Americans. In 1980, the guidelines included seven recommendations, including the encouragement to eat a variety of different foods, to avoid too much saturated fat, sugar and sodium and to eat foods with adequate starch and fiber.

In 1985, the task force issued both a report with its evidence and a booklet for the general public, a practice that has continued through 2010. The recommendations in 1985 echoed those from the 1980 guidelines and specifically recommended vegetables, fruits and grain products.

Additional Publications

The 2000 Dietary Guidelines included more materials and tools for health professional to use with clients and more booklets for the public, including "Get Moving," Fabulous Fruits," "Get on the Grain Train," and "How Much Are You Eating?" In 1992, the task force introduced the iconic Food Guide Pyramid, which was then updated periodically, based on new scientific findings.

2010 Dietary Guidelines

The 2010 guidelines emphasize maintaining a calorie balance over a lifetime to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. It also introduces the concept of nutrient-dense foods and beverages as opposed to foods that contain lots of calories but little nutrition. The key recommendations include foods to reduce, such as salty and fatty foods, trans fats and refined grain products, foods to increase, such as fruits and vegetables, foods with calcium, fiber and vitamin D and how to create a healthy eating pattern.

MyPlate

On June 2, 2011, the Food Pyramid gave way to MyPlate, a graphic depicting a dinner plate with segments showing more than half of the plate devoted to vegetables and grains, smaller portions for fruit and protein and a small circle, representing a glass, for dairy. A "New York Times" editorial for June 4, 2011 explains that MyPlate vividly and visually counters what the 2010 Dietary Guidelines reported are the main calories sources for children --- grain-based desserts, pizza and either soda or high-calorie energy drinks.