I f youre not eating as healthfully as the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise, youre hardly alone. Researchers who analyzed data on 16,338 individuals eating habits from 2001-2004 national dietary surveys painted a dire picture of adherence to the healthy-eating guidelines. Nearly everyone in the survey failed to meet recommendations for whole grains, dark green vegetables, orange veg- etables and legumes. A majority fell short on every food group except beans, total grains and, not surprisingly, meat. Meanwhile, 80% of Americans age 71-plus and more than 90% of all other age groups, regardless of gender, indulged too much in discretionary calories-those from saturated fats, added sugars and alcohol. Research- ers concluded, Nearly the entire US population consumes a diet that is not on par with recommendations. These fndings add another piece to the rather disturbing picture that is emerging of a nations diet in crisis. An offcial update to the US dietary guidelines will be issued by years end-though the re- vised recommendations arent expected to be any easier to live up to.Journal of Nutrition, October 2010; abstract at <jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/ abstract/140/10/1832>
