5 things to look for as government writes new dietary advice

Dietary guidelines released by the government every five years lay out recommendations for healthy eating, but the ones coming out at the end of year may look at what is healthy for the environment, too. Dietary guidelines released by the government every five years lay out recommendations for healthy eating, but the ones coming out at the end of year may look at what is healthy for the environment, too.

By Associated Press January 24, 2015 4 min read

For years, the government has told Americans to eat their vegetables. A rewrite of the government’s dietary guidelines could include some new advice, too, on sugar, salt, meat and caffeine.

Whether individuals listen or not, the dietary guidelines affect nutritional patterns throughout the country — from federally subsidized school lunches to labels on food packages to your doctor’s advice. They also form the basis for the government’s “My Plate” icon, which replaced the food pyramid a few years ago.

A government advisory committee made up of medical and nutrition experts is set to issue preliminary recommendations this month. It indicated in draft recommendations circulated last month that it may suggest some changes in current dietary advice.

The secretaries of the Agriculture and Health and Human Services Departments will take those recommendations into account as they craft the final 2015 guidelines, expected by the end of the year.

Five things to watch for as the government begins writing the new guidelines.