02/23/99 ADA Stresses That Food Variety Works as a 'Nutrition Coalition' for Good Health

ADA Stresses That Food Variety Works as a 'Nutrition Coalition' for Good Health

Advance for Release

February 23, 1999, 12:01 p.m. (EST)

Media Contacts: Doris Acosta or M. Johnna Thomas
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ADA STRESSES THAT FOOD VARIETY WORKS AS A 'NUTRITION COALITION' FOR GOOD HEALTH
New Data Show Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Low

CHICAGO--The American Dietetic Association encourages Americans to take the latest consumer data showing that fruit and vegetable consumption is in a deficit as a challenge to expand their tastes and enjoy a wider variety of foods from the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid.

Data from MRCA Information Services on Americans' eating patterns were released today by the Produce for Better Health Foundation at a press conference in Washington, D.C. Data showed adult Americans are eating, on average, 3.1 servings of fruit and vegetables per day.

MRCA's findings are below the recommendations outlined in the Food Guide Pyramid, which calls for three to five vegetable servings and two to four fruit servings per day.

"Scientific evidence continues to show eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains and selecting nonfat or low-fat dairy products and lean meats are important to good health," said Washington, D.C. registered dietitian Edee Hogan, a spokesperson for the 70,000-member ADA.

Hogan and others at ADA advise people to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, but not to the exclusion of other healthful foods like nonfat and low-fat dairy products and lean meat, poultry and fish.

"Choose foods from all five food groups," Hogan said. Think of food variety as a nutrition coalition. In partnership, different foods provide the nutrients your body needs," she said.

ADA offers the following advice for enjoying a variety of foods:

  • Make a plan for change. Divide big goals, such as "I will eat better," into smaller, more specific goals, such as "I will eat more vegetables."
  • Change doesn't always mean eliminating a food or food habit. Make gradual changes. For example, try one new fruit or vegetable a week. Small steps toward reaching a goal add up over time!
  • Focus more on moderation and balance. Hogan recommends learning portion sizes. "They are often smaller than you think," she said.

One extra benefit of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is that it may help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight, according to Hogan. These foods, she said, are high in fiber and low in fat and can help satisfy hunger without many calories.

"In addition to fiber, plant foods contain many vitamins, minerals and other beneficial components," Hogan said.

In addition to eating a variety of foods, Hogan and other registered dietitians encourage people to balance what they eat with physical activity.