Making good choices from revised food guidelines.

The revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans are "a great opportunity for nutrition and health professionals to show people just how easy it is to make good nutrition choices," maintains Doris Derelian, president of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). "The Dietary Guidelines are the bottom line- the cornerstone for the recommendations made by health and nutrition professionals." To get the most good from these suggestions, the ADA recommends:

Eat a variety of foods. At the supermarket, buy one new fruit and vegetable each week. At home, try one new recipe or prepared food a week. Keep in mind that you don't need to give up favorite foods to enjoy healthful eating. Balance a variety from all food groups over the course of a day and week.

Balance the food you eat with physical activity; maintain or improve your weight. Gradual changes go a long way toward healthy, lifelong habits. When adding physical activity to your routine or working toward healthy body weight, start with small steps. For instance, take stairs instead of the elevator. If healthy body weight is your goal, pay special attention to portion sizes. You might be surprised to learn that the bowl of cereal you had this morning actually adds up to three or four servings.

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