Nutrition Basics and Dietary Guidelines Overview

The smallest amount of a nutrient that maintains a defined level of nutritional health.

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Estimated Energy Requirement (EER), Adequate Intake (AI), Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL).

Average daily energy intake that meets needs of a healthy person who is maintaining his/her weight.

Standards for recommended daily intakes of several nutrients that meet the nutrient needs of nearly all (~98%) of healthy people.

Dietary recommendations that assume a population's average daily nutrient intakes are adequate because no deficiency diseases are present.

Standard representing the highest average amount of a nutrient that is unlikely to be harmful when consumed daily.

45-65% 900-1300 Calories.

10-35% and 200-700 Calories.

20-35% And 400-700 Calories.

Plan nutritious diets for groups, evaluate nutritional adequacy of populations, develop food products, and provide standards for nutritional labeling purposes (Daily Values).

Products made from wheat, rice, and oats. Primary macronutrients are carbohydrate and protein. Enriched grains have iron and certain B vitamins added. Whole grains provide more fiber and micronutrients than refined grains.

Milk and products made from milk that retain calcium after processing. Excellent sources of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and riboflavin. Cream cheese, cream, and butter are not included.

Includes beef, pork, lamb, fish, shellfish, liver, and poultry. Dry beans & peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds are included because they can substitute for meats. Excellent sources of iron, zinc, and B vitamins.

Includes fresh, dried, frozen, sauced, and canned fruits, and 100% juice. Good sources of phytochemicals, potassium, and vitamin C. Whole or cut-up fruits provide more fiber than juices.

Includes fresh, cooked, canned, frozen, and dried/dehydrated vegetables and 100% vegetable juice. Good sources of micronutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals.

May include an oils group and an empty-calorie group. Oils are often good sources of fat-soluble vitamins. Empty calorie foods generally contain a lot of added sugar, alcohol, and/or solid fat.

Sources of 'unhealthy' saturated fat.

Recommended for people over 2 years of age. Updated every 5 years by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture.

Made in 2011. Includes a variety of food, nutrition, and physical activity resources based on the recommendations of the dietary guidelines. Focuses on five food groups: fruits, vegetables, protein foods, grains, and dairy.

Come from alcoholic beverages and foods that contain high amounts of added sugars and/or solid fats.

Information about energy and nutrient contents of packaged foods, serving size, and number of servings in a package. Required to have total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

No, they are not required on fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and shellfish, meats, and poultry.

A set of nutrient intake standards developed for labeling purposes. A more simplified and practical set of nutrient standards than RDA. The adult DV for a nutrient is based on RDA, AI, or expert recommendations for a 2000 kcal/day diet.

Produced without the use of antibiotics, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic improvements, or spoilage-killing radiation.