Today, more than ever , most Americans are thinking about food in connection with what it does to promote or delay good health. If healthy eating is a popular topic within your social group or you are you one of the hundreds of Central Texans who have become interested in the politics of food, you might be interested in following the development of the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans report due out in 2010.

Because of increasing interest in food policy, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have made a great deal of information that will be considered as the basis for the next Guidelines online.

The report has been published jointly every five years since 1980 and provides authoritative advice for people two years and older about good dietary habits and physical activity to promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases. Think USDA Food Pyramid as just the beginning. This report serves as the basis for federal food and nutrition education programs. They are considered the cornerstone of Federal nutrition policy and nutrition education.

Development of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines

A 13-member panel of nationally recognized experts in health and nutrition is reviewing scientific and medical information available to determine what changes, if any, should be recommended. They are conducting a series of five advisory committee meetings and just completed the third in April. This time, they are holding their meetings as webinars that are open to the public via computer access. In addition to receiving input from respected researchers and other interested parties, the committee encourages comments from the public, which can be both posted and accessed online.

The date for the next webinar has not been determined, but you can sign up to be notified when it occurs and to register as a participant. Registration is free and open to anyone, but there are a limited number of connections, so be sure to sign up early if you want to participate. Information on how to do that is contained in a fact sheet developed for the third session.

In addition, you may submit written comments at any time to the committee and read comments sent in by others. You also may review all information submitted during the first three meetings including expert testimony.

Current Dietary Guidelines Recommendations

Eating healthy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and is something that should be learned by everyone at a young age. The following are some general guidelines from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans report.

• Eat three meals a day, with healthy snacks.
• Increase fiber in the diet and decrease the use of salt.
• Drink water. Try to avoid drinks and juices that are high in sugar.
• Children under the age of 2 need fats in their diet to help with the growth of their nervous system. Do not place these children on a low fat diet without talking with your child's physician.
• Eat balanced meals.
• Try to bake or broil instead of frying.
• Decrease your child's sugar intake.
• Eat fruit or vegetables for a snack.
• For people over age 5, use low-fat dairy products.
• Decrease the use of butter and heavy gravies.
• Eat more lean chicken, fish, and beans for protein.