Evaluating 2010 Dietary Guidelines

Evaluating the 2010 Dietary Guidelines and the foods that make up each category, I am carefully reconsidering everything that I eat on a daily basis. Although my diet has consisted mainly of chicken, tuna, salads, fresh vegetables, fruits, and water to drink, I now realize there are more areas that I need to re-evaluate. Monitoring the seasonings and the amount that I use when I cook is one of those areas that will need adjustment. Becoming more conscious of the recommended amounts of sodium, fats and especially the trans-fatty and saturated fatty acids is another area that I need to monitor more closely when shopping. By learning substitution options for seasonings and recipes, I can make healthier choices for myself as well as healthier meals for my family. …show more content…
Department of Agriculture & Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Reasons for the additional calories can be attributed to additional fats, oils, grains, milk, milk products, and caloric sweeteners (U.S. Department of Agriculture & Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Furthermore, portion sizes have increased; research shows that people often times consume the entire portion resulting in increased caloric intake (U.S. Department of Agriculture & Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Finally, the number of fast food restaurants has doubled in the last 40-50 years (U.S. Department of Agriculture & Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Consuming fast food on a regular basis has resulted in higher BMI’s for children as well as adults (U.S. Department of Agriculture & Department of Health and Human Services,