As a nation together who has made chronic disease statistics increase and fruit and vegetable consumption decrease, we are still able to turn the tables by practicing the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Everyone has a role in helping individuals shift their food, beverage, and physical activity choices.

Support health eating patterns for all.  Likewise to having the opportunity to shift meal and snack selections for yourself, you are also capable of providing that opportunity for others as well.  Often, people are not usually alone when making food decisions, and these choices can be easily influenced by other friends, messages, and resources.  One’s surroundings greatly impact health decisions.

Practice healthy initiatives.  There are several action plans for supporting health eating patterns throughout the communities.  A few strategies to get involved around the home would be to start meal planning, cooking at home (include the children in meal prep!), limiting screen time, and participating in family physical activity.  Other initiatives that are happening in the public health world include menu labeling in restaurants, nutrition education in schools, corporate wellness programs at work, farmer’s markets in the communities, and overall accessibility to healthy options.  Surrounding the society with healthy initiatives on many levels of efforts are needed in order to have meaningful lifestyle changes.

Click HERE for more information about the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Resources:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. Available at http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.