Purpose of the Dietary Guidelines (2024)

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. It is developed and written for a professional audience, including policymakers, healthcare providers, nutrition educators, and Federal nutrition program operators. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) work together to update and release the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) every five years. Each edition of the Dietary Guidelines reflects the current body of nutrition science. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 is the current edition.

What people eat and drink have an impact on their health. In the U.S., more than half of all adults have one or more preventable chronic diseases, many of which are related to poor diets and not enough physical activity. Given the high rates of chronic disease among Americans, the science that informs the Dietary Guidelines is examined through the lens of health promotion and disease prevention. This means that priority has been placed on studies that examine the relationship between diet and health across all life stages, in men, women and children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, who are healthy or at risk of chronic disease. This scientific underpinning makes the Dietary Guidelines relevant to all Americans, and an important tool for health professionals, policy makers, and many other professionals. All Americans, no matter their health status, can benefit from making changes to what they eat and drink to build a healthy diet.


This infographic illustrates the impact of our current eating habits in Americaand underscores how eating healthier – closer to the Dietary Guidelines –can help to reduce risk of diet-related chronic disease.

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The Dietary Guidelines provides a customizable framework for healthy eating that can be tailored and adapted to meet personal, cultural and traditional preferences. People who work in Federal agencies, public health, healthcare, education, and business all rely on the Dietary Guidelines when providing information on diet and health to the general public. The Dietary Guidelines are used by these professionals to:

  • Form the basis of Federal nutrition policy and programs
  • Support nutrition education efforts
  • Guide local, state, and national health promotion and disease prevention initiatives
  • Inform various organizations and industries
Purpose of the Dietary Guidelines (2024)

FAQs

Purpose of the Dietary Guidelines? ›

The purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to provide advice on what to eat and drink to build a healthy diet that can promote healthy growth and development, help prevent diet-related chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs.

What is a major purpose of the dietary Guideline? ›

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. It is developed and written for a professional audience, including policymakers, healthcare providers, nutrition educators, and Federal nutrition program operators.

What is the purpose of the dietary Standards? ›

There are two primary purposes and uses of dietary standards--the planning of diets or food supplies and the evaluation of dietary histories.

What is the purpose of the food guideline? ›

Canada's food guide helps you choose foods that: improve health. meet nutrient needs. reduce risk of nutrition-related, chronic (long-term) diseases and conditions.

What is the purpose of the dietary Requirements? ›

promote health and wellbeing; reduce the risk of diet-related conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity; and. reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancers.

What is the purpose of Dietary Guidelines? ›

The purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to provide advice on what to eat and drink to build a healthy diet that can promote healthy growth and development, help prevent diet-related chronic disease, and meet nutrient needs.

What is the purpose of a dietary plan? ›

Planning diets refers to determining what usual nutrient intake should be. Regardless of whether one is planning diets for individuals or groups, the goal is to have diets that are nutritionally adequate, or conversely, to ensure that the probability of nutrient inadequacy or excess is acceptably low.

What is the purpose of the Dietary Guidelines quizlet? ›

What is the purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? To provide science-based advice to promote health and to reduce risk for chronic diseases through diet and physical activity.

What is the purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans ______? ›

A: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities, providing food-based recommendations to promote health, help prevent diet-related disease, and meet nutrient needs.

What are three of the main messages of the Dietary Guidelines? ›

When deciding what to eat or drink, follow these three key dietary principles.
  • Meet nutritional needs primarily from nutrient-dense foods and beverages.
  • Choose a variety of options from each food group: vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, and protein foods.
  • Pay attention to portion size.

Why are food safety guidelines important? ›

Food and kitchen safety are important to protect public health, comply with regulations, ensure customer satisfaction, achieve cost savings, and protect the environment. Safe food handling practices prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses and health risks associated with contaminated food.

Why is it important to follow the healthy eating guidelines? ›

Eating a wide variety of healthy foods helps to keep you in good health and protects you against chronic disease. Eating a well-balanced diet means eating a variety of foods from each of the 5 food groups daily, in the recommended amounts. It is also important to choose a variety of foods from within each food group.

What are the three important elements of good dietary guidance? ›

At Oldways, we're convinced that good dietary guidance has three important elements: pyramids, plates and real food. Real food is most important. The theory of good nutrition makes people's eyes glaze over, but a plateful of well-prepared healthy food rules the day. Not sure you like whole grains?

What is the point of having dietary restrictions? ›

Improved Health: Dietary restrictions can help manage specific health conditions, such as food allergies, intolerances, or medical conditions like diabetes or celiac disease. By avoiding certain foods or ingredients, individuals can alleviate symptoms and improve their overall well-being.

What is the purpose of dietary habits? ›

A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. It protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.

What is the purpose of dietary intake? ›

Dietary intake measurements are used to assess food, nutrient, or bioactive intake of individuals, groups, or populations. They may also be used to assess dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, or to study dietary behaviors, such as skipping breakfast.

What is the major purpose of the Dietary Guidelines quizlet? ›

What is the purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? To provide science-based advice to promote health and to reduce risk for chronic diseases through diet and physical activity.

What are the three major parts of the Dietary Guidelines? ›

Eat a variety of foods. Maintain healthy weight. Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

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