April 2005

Intro | Handouts | Print-Ready Graphics | General Background Information | Information on Specific Nutrients | Information for Consumers

Intro

In January 2005, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) released the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which represent the most current evidence-based scientific knowledge on food and nutrition to help Americans maximize good health and decrease risk of chronic disease.

Based upon the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA developed the new MyPyramid Food Guidance System to assist Americans in applying dietary advice in their daily diets. 

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation has prepared and selected the following resources to complement and add context to information surrounding the release of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and new MyPyramid Food Guidance System. All of the resources may be used freely, with attribution to the IFIC Foundation.

Resources for Health Professionals and Journalists

Handouts
“Easy Solutions for a Healthier YOU” is a reproducible PDF flyer for consumers. Includes a cut-out containing consumer tips for incorporating dietary guidance, as well as links to additional tips and resources to achieve a more healthful lifestyle in a personalized way!

Download the flyer

Print-Ready Graphics
The following graphics can be used to help illustrate articles on dietary guidance. The timeline graphics put the history of USDA food guidance into an at-a-glance format. The Consumer Tips on Dietary Guidance offer practical actions that consumers can use to put general dietary guidance into practice. Each graphic is available in color and black and white JPEG and EPS formats. Simply right-click the desired graphic and file type and choose "save target as" to save the graphic to your own computer.

General Background Information

• Questions and Answers about the Food Guidance System
• Questions and Answers about the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Background on Adult Nutrition, Health & Physical Activity
• Communicating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005: Lessons Learned from Consumer Research, Food Insight
• Pulse Check on Dietary Guidance in the United States, Food Insight
• Tools for Effective Communications Consumer Tested Messages and Tips
• It’s All About You—Nutrition Communicator’s Toolkit
• Beginning a New Nutrition Conversation with Consumers (Continuing professional education credit for registered dietitians)
• New Dietary Guidance:  Translating the Message to the Public (PowerPoint presentation)

Information on Specific Nutrients

• Frequently Asked Questions About Sugars and Carbohydrates
• Background on Dietary Fats & Fat Replacers
• Background on Functional Foods
• Sodium in Food and Health

Resources for Consumers

• Owner’s Manual for YOUR Body…How to Fuel it and Move it for a Fun and Healthy Life