USDA DIET
This diet has an authoritative sound to it, as it should. The regimen basically consists of following the United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines. Developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it structures a healthy, well-balanced diet each day as set forth by the USDA guidelines for nutrition. In 2005 the USDA established new guidelines: Working out 30-90 minutes each day, eating less than 2000 calories, and incorporating fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, and meats in a balanced ratio. Participants can use the USDA pyramid as a guide to remember the food groups and recommended ratio of foods each meal.
Foods Encouraged: Foods laid out in the USDA guidelines
Foods Restricted: Sugars, sweets, saturated fats, artificial food products
Premise and Guidelines: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services establish healthy eating guidelines in the form of a ‘Food Pyramid’, which includes all the food groups they feel are necessary for optimal health. These guidelines are updated every five years to promote wellness and reduce the risk of serious disease.
The USDA guidelines provide information like weight management, physical activity, obtaining the most nutrients for consumed calories, food groups and food safety. The USDA Diet instructs you as to which foods you should be eating, the quantities to be eaten and the nutrients needed for overall healthy weight loss.
Most people are familiar with the four main food groups: grains; fruits and veggies; dairy; and meats and beans. What most of us are unfamiliar with are the suggested daily servings: dairy- 3 servings per day, carbohydrates and grains- 3 servings, fruits and vegetables- 4 servings, and lean meats and proteins in moderate amounts. The guidelines also recommend eating 2000 calories or less each day, incorporating each group into your diet daily, and exercising 30-90 minutes each day.
The difficulty in following this diet lies in trying to eat all of the suggested food servings and still stay under the 2,000 calorie limit. Busy schedules that result in eating fast food or prepackaged meals make adherence to this diet nearly impossible. The good news is that if you managed to eat from all the food groups, you will definitely be full and have no room for junk food, sweets or other ‘bad’ foods. Although this diet is ideal, even the employees at the USDA would have a hard time eating strictly to their own guidelines. Use it as just that- a guide.