USApples Contributes To USDA’s Dietary Guildelines

Vienna, VA – The U.S. Apple Association submitted written comments today in response to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) report that will help in the development of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“The U.S. apple industry is ready and able to help Americans get on the path to health and wellness by providing them with healthy, nutritious, and delicious apples and apple products. We support policy, regulatory and environmental changes that would increase fruit and vegetable consumption,” states Allison Parker, MS, RD, Director, Consumer Health and Education for USApple.

USApple commended the DGAC for their time and effort in creating a well-researched, ground-breaking report that helped to paint a clearer picture of what is needed to improve Americans’ diets and health—which includes greater consumption of fruits and vegetables—especially more apples and apple products. USApple urged both USDA and HHS to translate the expert committee’s advice in a way that does not weaken the report’s findings, but rather encourages positive dietary habits for the American public. More specifically, USApple recommended that the agencies:

Encourage a more plant-based diet and use the “Half Plate” imagery to illustrate for Americans. Fruits and vegetables should be the basis of a healthful diet, yet Americans do not consume enough of them. A graphic representation that is easy for consumers to remember would be filling half of their plate with fruits and vegetables first and remembering that fruit makes a perfect snack food.

Translate the DGAC report into actionable, easy to understand, compelling and strong messages that will encourage Americans to change their dietary habits—especially increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. The agencies should aim to include specific advice about foods as sources of nutrients and focus less on specific nutrients (regardless of whether or not those nutrients are over or under-consumed). By focusing on whole foods, consumers will be able to better identify which foods they should begin limiting and which they should be eating more of – like fruits and vegetables.

Realize that it will take more than dietary guidance to make the necessary changes to better the health of our nation and encourage implementation of policy and environmental changes that will create healthier food environments that involve coordinated efforts. Right now our food environment, or the environment in which we purchase and eat food, is one that promotes over consumption of energy dense and nutritionally poor foods. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines should strive to make the U.S. food environment one where it is more the norm to eat healthfully.

Follow the “Call to Action” suggested by the DGAC report and focus on childhood nutrition and health now. Even though the guidelines are revised and recommendations are made every 5 years, most Americans have not changed their eating habits; but rather in the last 30 years, due to multiple factors, eating habits and lifestyle choices have resulted in 2/3 of our nation to be overweight or obese. Focusing on children first will help improve the health of our younger generations and generations to come.

Source:  U.S. Apple Association