Dietary Guidelines, 2005

Vegetarian Journal, May-June, 2005 by Reed Mangels

Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a statement of current federal policy on the role of dietary factors in health promotion and disease prevention. The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services issue Dietary Guidelines every five years. The latest edition, issued in January 2005, includes changes that will impact the Food Guide Pyramid. One of the most significant changes is that dried beans are given a much fairer treatment. In the past, you had to eat 1 1/2 cups of cooked dried beans to equal a 2 to 3 ounce serving of meat. The latest edition of Dietary Guidelines more realistically calls 1/2 to 3/4 cup of cooked beans equivalent to a serving of meat. In fact, the guidelines state that 1 1/2 ounces of nuts and 2/3 cup of legumes can take the place of the 5.5 ounces of meat that typically is included in a 2000 calorie diet. Changes like these make it obvious that it is easy to follow a vegetarian diet.

While the guidelines acknowledge that Americans consume too many saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, and salt, there is little identification of specific foods (like meats) that should be avoided. In an ideal world, the Dietary Guidelines would clearly state that vegetarian diets have significant health benefits, but that didn't happen in this edition.

Despite these limitations, these latest Guidelines definitely have some advantages over previous recommendations. The Executive Summary states, "It is important to incorporate the food preferences of different racial/ethnic groups, vegetarians, and other groups when planning diets and developing educational programs and materials." This language could be used to push for more vegetarian options in the School Lunch Program and other federally supported meal programs. Recommendations call for increased use of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with a total of 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day recommended for someone typically eating 2000 calories. Additionally, specific fruits and vegetables (dark green vegetables, orange fruits and vegetables, legumes, etc.) are promoted rather than simply encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables without noting that carrots are better for you than iceberg lettuce. Also, the new Guidelines call for at least half the servings of grains to be in the form of whole grains. Information is included on non-meat sources of iron and on non-dairy sources of calcium and vitamin D. Overall, there are some positive changes to the Dietary Guidelines, although they still strongly promote the use of fish and dairy products. The Dietary Guidelines and related information can be seen at . Printed copies can be purchased from the U.S. Government Printing Office at (866) 512-1800.

U.S. Depts. of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC. 2005.