Guidelines for a Healthy Diet

By Abby Sauer, RD

We all know that good nutrition is important. It is vital for good health and overall well-being. There are many people and places you can go for information on nutrition, but the best place for reputable nutrition advice, is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA is the governmental agency that established the Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans to help guide people’s food choices.

The Food Guide Pyramid can help show you the best choices and how many servings you should consume from the food groups – grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat and beans. The pyramid also contains some tips to help you in your eating plan, such as:

• Make half your grains whole
• Vary your veggies
• Focus on fruit
• Get your calcium rich foods
• Go lean with protein
• Find your balance between food and physical activity

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005, gives science-based advice on food and physical activity choices for health. The Dietary Guidelines describe a healthy diet as one that:

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products;
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

You can find more information on The Food Guide Pyramid and The Dietary Guidelines for Americans at www.mypyramid.gov.

However, sometimes it may be a challenge to get the good nutrition you need, especially if you are recovering from an illness. While you can still follow the basic principles or the Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you may need help getting the right nutrition into your body. There may also be times when you might not feel like making meals or may not have the energy to shop or cook for food. During these times, oral nutritional supplements, like Ensure, can be a convenient and nutritious option. Ensure is a good source of protein and an excellent source of 24 essential vitamins and minerals. Ensure is nutrition for a healthier you.

Ensure Nutrional Facts

Serv. Size 1 bottle (8 fl oz) Calories 250 Calories from Fat 50	Amount Per Serving	% DV*		Amount Per Serving	% DV*
	Total Fat 6g	9%		Potassium 390mg	11%
	Saturated Fat 1g	5%		Total Carb. 40g	13%
	Trans Fat 0g			Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
	Polyunsaturated Fat 3g			Sugars 22g
	Monounsaturated Fat 2g			Protein 9g	18%
	Cholesterol 5mg	2%