Which of the following recommendations supports one of the overarching guidelines of the Dietary Guidelines? (A) Choose a variety of enriched, ultra-processed foods and beverages (B) Focus on eliminating sodium from your diet (C) Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages (D) Choose rich sources of saturated fat for meals and snacks
Answer (1)
The question revolves around understanding the overarching guidelines set forth by the Dietary Guidelines. These guidelines are issued to provide science-based advice on what diets we should follow to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and meet nutrient needs. Let's examine each option to determine which best aligns with these guidelines:
(A) Choose a variety of enriched, ultra-processed foods and beverages: The Dietary Guidelines generally recommend limiting ultra-processed foods, which often contain high levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium. Therefore, this option does not support the overarching guidelines.
(B) Focus on eliminating sodium from your diet: While reducing sodium is often advised, the Dietary Guidelines emphasize moderation rather than complete elimination of any nutrient unless there's a specific health condition that requires it.
(C) Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages: This option emphasizes consuming a variety of foods that provide necessary nutrients in appropriate amounts. Nutrient-dense foods are those that provide vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial substances with relatively few calories. This approach aligns well with the Dietary Guidelines, which suggest making food choices that have a high nutritional quality.
(D) Choose rich sources of saturated fat for meals and snacks: The Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting saturated fats, suggesting that consumption of these should be less than 10% of daily calories. Therefore, this option does not support the guidelines.
The correct choice, therefore, is (C) Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages. This recommendation aligns well with the Dietary Guidelines by advocating for a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods.
