10 Things You Need to Know About the New USDA Guidelines
We break down the dietary guidelines update into 10 easy changes you can make right now.
By Monica Bhide
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Image Source/ Gettty
Dietary Guidelines from the USDA
The USDA just released a document outlining new eating guidelines for Americans. But just what do these guidelines mean and how can we incorporate them in our everyday eating habits?
We break it down for you and provide recipes that will help you eat healthier in 2011.
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Brand X/Getty Images
Lower Your Sodium
Lowering your sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon) is one of the key recommendations. For people who already have hypertension, diabetes, and other illnesses, this number drops to less than 1500 mg a day.
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Fancy Photography /Veer
Make the Switch to Fat-Free or 1% Milk
Only babies and children under 2 should be drinking whole milk. Everyone else should switch to low-fat or fat-free milk products.
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iStockphoto
Eat More Seafood
Increase seafood consumption (both the amount and the variety should be increased) and reduce consumption of other animal products.
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Greg Scheidemann
Consume More Whole Grains
At least half the grains you consume should be whole grains. Do this by replacing refined grains with whole grains.
- Get the recipe for Whole Grain Hummus Sandwich with Veggies
- Get the recipe for Five Grain Pancake Mix
- Get the recipe for Whole Wheat Rolls
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Scott Little
Cut Down on Saturated Fats
Consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fatty acids. This means that we need to cut down consumption of animal products, dairy, eggs and also of processed foods (trans fats hide under the guise of hydrogenated oil in processed foods). We need to replace these with good fats like monounsaturated fatty acids (found in walnuts, pistachios, avocadoes and olive oil) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in salmon, fish oil, safflower oil etc).
- Get the recipe for Avocado Salsa
- Get the recipe for Spicy Hoisin Salmon
- Get the recipe for Apple Walnut Baby Puree
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Shannon Greer
Lower Your Dietary Cholesterol Consumption
Consume less than 300 mg per day of dietary cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal and dairy products but not from fruits and vegetables. So basically this means less meat and more plants!
- Get the recipe for Hot Vegetable Curry
- Get the recipe for Greek-Style Roasted Vegetables
- Get the recipe for Vegetable Medley
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Peter Ardito
Reduce Added Sugars
Read nutrition labels to look for added sugars. Beware! Added sugars often "hide" behind less common monikers. Look for these varieties in your ingredient list: brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, invert sugar, lactose, maltose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, and syrup.
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Scott Little
Fight Fat
Use oils to replace solid fats like butter, tallow, shortening and margarine.
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Jenny Risher
Eat More Fruit
Nearly everyone can stand to increase their fruit intake. The USDA recommends about four 1/2-cup servings of fruit a day.
- Get the recipe for Fruit Sundae Cones
- Get the recipe for Fall Fruit Compote
- Get the recipe for Fruit and Cheese Kabobs
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Greg Scheidemann
Eat Your Vegetables!
Increase your intake of vegetables including leafy greens, peas, and other brightly colored veggies.
Copyright © 2011 Meredith Corporation.
All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
- Get the recipe for Orange Amandine Green Beans
- Get the recipe for Krispy Kale Chips
- Get the Recipe for Minty Peas
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