By: Ann Bouchoux Date: 11/4/09
Over the next couple of days nutrition experts around the country are meeting to discuss the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For those of us in the nutrition world, the Dietary Guidelines is a big deal document. The Guidelines not only provides recommendations based on current scientific knowledge about how a healthful diet may improve nutritional status, it also serves as the basis for policy changes pertaining to school food, WIC programs, and countless other national, state, and local legislative decisions. Dietitians look to the Dietary Guidelines for scientifically sound ways to help patients and clients build more healthful diets on an individual basis.
So it’s not surprising that in late 2009, dietitians’ attention is focused on the deliberations of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which meets periodically for scientific deliberations that will support the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
History of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Most Americans don’t spend a lot of time thinking about nutrition. In fact, most Americans probably have only a vague idea about this crazy thing called Dietary Guidelines. With that in mind, I thought a little history might be helpful.
Thirty-two years ago, following much debate and discussion, the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, led by Senator George McGovern, recommended dietary goals for American consumers. These goals were very controversial and there was significant argument about whether the science supported the recommendations to increase and decrease certain food components by very specific amounts. To address this controversy, USDA and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare convened their scientists and other nutrition experts to determine the best ways to build a healthful diet.
Following this rough beginning, a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee of independent scientific experts was established to help with the development of the 1985 Guidelines. In 1990, Congress directed that the Guidelines be issued every 5 years to ensure they keep up with emerging science.
Since the beginning, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has become a widely recognized document that reflects consensus science upon which to build dietary recommendations. The 2005 Guidelines are reflected in MyPyramid which you've probably seen on food labels or in the doctors office.
What's Next?
We are now on the cusp of a new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The topics receiving extra attention this time include those wacky “discretionary calories” that we all need to watch with calorie control in mind, as well as plant proteins and sodium. It will be interesting to see the recommendations for these issues as well as others such as dietary fats, carbohydrates, water, and even alcohol.
This week's meeting is one of several in the process to determine the 2010 Guidelines. The advisory committee will meet again early next year before submitting their final report later in 2010. Keep checking back here for insight on the discussions surrounding the Dietary Guidelines as well as analysis of what it all means to you when the finished product is released next year.