Building a healthy eating pattern has major health benefits. It can help people reach or stay at a healthy body weight, get the nutrients they need, and lower the risk of serious health problems — like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancers. But, as you probably already know, patients may not know how to get started with incorporating healthy food choices into their everyday routines.
The good news is you can help your patients start making healthy choices — and stick with them — by sharing our new resource on healthy eating patterns. How to Build a Healthy Eating Pattern [PDF – 520KB] (also available in Spanish [PDF – 520KB]), based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, can help your patients and clients learn how to:
- Get the nutrients they need through a variety of foods and beverages
- Eat and drink the number of calories that’s right for them
- Limit saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium
- Develop strategies for sticking with healthy eating over time
The fact sheet includes visuals with the amounts recommended for each of the 5 different food groups plus oils based on a 2,000-calorie diet. It also breaks down examples of meals to show how each contributes to the food groups and to a healthy eating pattern.
The bottom line is that there’s more than one way to eat healthy. Share this resource with your patients to show them how healthy eating can fit into their personal tastes and traditions — and help set them up for a lifetime of healthy choices.