Sensible Eating plan

You can find trusted nutrition information in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which contain advice about what and how much to eat and which foods to avoid. Every 5 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services use the latest nutrition research to develop these Guidelines that encourage people to:

• Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean sources of protein and dairy products

To help you create a healthy eating pattern, the Guidelines suggest two sensible eating plans: the USDA Food Patterns and the DASH Eating Plan. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Both are healthy options, whether or not you have high blood pressure (hypertension). Both are flexible so you can probably include many foods you prefer. The USDA Food Patterns even include adaptations for people on vegetarian or vegan diets.

Eating for Health

Many health issues associated with aging can be controlled and delayed by eating healthier. Learn about the changes Gloria and Richard made to their diets to help them work toward a healthier future.

What's On Your Plate? is based on the nutrition recommendations for older adults in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).