Many Americans don’t meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, with most not consuming enough fruit, dairy, vegetables, or whole grains. However, there are budget-friendly options within each food group that can help improve nutrition without breaking the bank. Use this guide to learn how to focus on cost-effective, nutritious foods, to meet dietary goals while keeping budget in check.
Key Topics Covered
Insights on food group recommendations not being met by U.S. adults.
Examples of the most cost-effective foods and beverages within each food group.
Practical tips and recipes for maximizing nutrition while minimizing cost.
There are several myths about food processing that can lead to misconceptions about nutrition and the foods we choose to eat. Becoming aware of the myths that exist and understanding the facts behind them can help consumers make more informed food choices.
Key Topics Covered
Facts behind common perceptions related to food processing.
Modern foods and beverages are processed in various ways to enhance safety, quality, and convenience. Common processing methods, such as fermentation, pasteurization, milling, fortification, and dehydration, serve specific purposes like extending shelf life and boosting nutrition content. Understanding these food processing methods and their benefits can help us appreciate the role processed foods play in our daily lives.
Key Topics Covered
Definition and purpose of food processing.
Description, benefits, and examples of common food processing methods.
While many people consider whether a food is processed before making a food purchasing decision, they less often consider the positive benefits of processed foods. This material provides more information on how processed foods contribute to food safety, affordability, availability, quality, and nutrition. Recognizing the benefits of processed foods can help consumers make more informed choices about incorporating them into a balanced meal plan.
Key Topics Covered
Processed food benefits related to access, quality, and health.
Low-calorie sweeteners undergo rigorous safety evaluation and can be helpful in managing calorie intake and blood glucose levels, making them a useful tool for weight management and diabetes control. Despite their potential benefits, there are many common myths and misperceptions about them. Understanding the facts about low-calorie sweeteners can help consumers make informed choices about including these sweeteners in a balanced diet.
Key Topics Covered
Low-calorie sweeteners safety and health benefits.
Facts behind common perceptions related to Low-calorie sweeteners.
While current dietary guidelines recommend limiting added sugar to <10% of your total daily calories, most of the US consumes more than this. Review this added sugar guide to learn how to consume added sugars in moderation, while maximizing nutrition.
Key Topics Covered
Current dietary recommendations and potential health impacts for added sugar intake.
Practical tips on consuming added sugar in moderation.
Food additives are ingredients added to the food during processing to help maintain or improve nutrition, food safety, freshness, taste, texture, or appearance. Without them, there would be several major consequences affecting the quality or quantity of our food supply. Review the food additives quick guide to learn all about the most common types of food additives, their purpose, and which types of foods they are usually found in.
The nutrition food label provides essential information about the nutrients in packaged foods to help empower consumers make more informed, healthier choices. Learn more about the key components of a nutrition facts label, including the serving size, calories, nutrients to consume more of (like fiber and vitamins), nutrients to limit (such as added sugars and sodium), and percent daily values, which show how a serving of food fits into your overall daily diet.
Key Topics Covered
What is a nutrition facts label is and why it is important?
Overview of the key components of a nutrition facts label.
Tips on how to read and/or interpret the information on a nutrition facts label.
GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are a hot topic when deciding which foods to consume. Learn about what genetic modification really means, the most common GMO crops in the U.S., and what the optional, third-party non-GMO project verified certification is. Also review the four common myths about GMO foods and how to address them using scientific evidence.
Clearing Up Common Misperceptions About Organic Foods
You have probably noticed some products on the grocery shelf have an “organic” claim on their package, but do you know what this claim means? This resource describes the four different levels of organic certification as well as some clarification of common misperceptions about organic foods using facts and scientific evidence. Being more aware about why consumers may choose organic products and what potential benefits these products do or do not provide, can help consumers make more informed decisions about purchasing these products.
Key Topics Covered
Definition of organic claims and regulation.
Description of the four levels of organic certification.
Facts behind common perceptions related to organic claims.
