Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains, Oh My!

News Note

By Darren Buford

Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring/Summer 2005.

New dietary guidelines recently put forth by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture suggest Americans should eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains. Published every five years, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 acknowledges that most Americans are overweight, but that obesity can be curbed by the consumption of 13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and at least three servings of grains (whole wheat, oats, or brown rice). The information, located at www.healthierus.gov, is also supplemented with advice about daily fitness, preventive screening, and avoiding risky behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption.