New Dietary Guidelines

Listed below are a handful of the new Dietary Guidelines that the U.S. government published last January in an effort to steer the nation toward healthier eating habits.

To maintain a healthy body weight, balance calories from foods and beverages with calories expended.

Everyone should get a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise each day. Losing weight will require 60 to 90 minutes of more intense daily exercise. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little added sugars or caloric sweeteners.

Half of all grains consumed should be whole grains, with at least three servings per day.

Less than 10 percent of calories should come from saturated fats, keep trans fat consumption as low as possible, and total fat should make up no more than 25 to 30 percent of total calories.

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation, about one drink per day for women and two for men.

Consume three cups daily of nonfat or low-fat dairy products.

Consume less than 2,300 mg (approximately 1 teaspoon of salt) of sodium per day.

For a 2,000-calorie diet eat 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day.