Understanding nutrients in foods can help consumers use the Nutrition Facts Label more effectively, and enable them to make choices that best suit their own health needs. Resources for becoming familiar with nutrients and their role in a healthy diet can be found here.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, released on January 31, 2011, emphasize three major goals for Americans:
- Balance calories with physical activity to manage weight
- Consume more of certain foods and nutrients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood
- Consume fewer foods with sodium (salt), saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, and refined grains
