Every five years, the government’s Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments update their dietary guidelines, and yes, the latest edition just went live. What’s new? Eggs get a pass, as the new guidelines removed limits on cholesterol. And sugar takes a big hit, with the recommendation that sugar represent no more than 10 percent of our caloric intake. The New York Times reports that the new guidelines warn that teenage boys and men, in particular, are eating too much protein, and they suggest that men eat less meat. An executive summary of the guidelines can be found here. And here, below, are the updated guidelines’ key recommendations:
Consume a healthy eating pattern that accounts for all foods and beverages within an appropriate calorie level.
A healthy eating pattern includes:
- A variety of vegetables from all of the subgroupsâ€â€dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy, and other
- Fruits, especially whole fruits
- Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages
- A variety of protein foods, including seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), and nuts, seeds, and soy products
- Oils
A healthy eating pattern limits:
- Saturated fats and trans fats, added sugars, and sodium