Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

TOOLS FOR ACHIEVING A HEALTHY DIET 63
Variety
Variety refers to consuming different foods within each of the food groups on a regular basis.
Eating a varied diet helps to ensure that you consume adequate amounts of all essential
nutrients required for health. One of the major drawbacks of a monotonous diet is the risk
of consuming too much of some nutrients and not enough of others. Trying new foods can
also be a source of pleasure—you never know what foods you might like until you try them.
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS
The Dietary Guidelines are published and revised every five years jointly by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) as a guide to
healthy eating for Americans. 3
Purpose
The purpose of the Dietary Guidelines is to give Americans evidence-based information
on what to eat and drink to promote health and prevent chronic disease. Public health
agencies, health care providers, and educational institutions all rely on Dietary Guidelines
recommendations and strategies. 3 These agencies use the Dietary Guidelines to:
• Form the basis of federal nutrition policy and programs such as WIC and SNAP
• Help guide local, state, and national health promotion and disease prevention
initiatives
• Inform various organizations and industries (for example, products developed and
marketed by the food and beverage industry)