Nutrition Standards

Nutrition

An unhealthy diet serves as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and related chronic diseases. In Georgia, the prevalence of such chronic conditions are at an all-time high with nutritious food consumption at a low. Recent surveys found 1 in 5 high school students, and 1 in 4 adults, consume the minimum recommendation of 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Through making the healthier choices in diet and encouraging others we can prevent and control chronic diseases in Georgia.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Focused on encouraging health and reducing risk of disease through good nutrition and physical activity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked together to develop evidenced based nutritional guidelines known as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2020-2025.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize 4 overarching guidelines for Americans which include:

Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage.
Customize and enjoy nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary considerations.
Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages, and stay within calorie limits.

Recommendations

Consume a healthy eating pattern for all foods and beverages.
- Fruits, especially whole fruits
- Variety of vegetables, such as dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), and starchy
- Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Variety of protein, such as seafood, lean meats and poultry, legumes, eggs, nuts, seeds, and soy products
- Oils
Limit consuming foods for a healthy eating pattern.
- Saturated fats and trans fats, sodium (salt), and added sugars
Choose beverages that are calorie-free, like water, or that contribute beneficial nutrients, such as fat-free and low-fat milk and 100% juice