The new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) are science-based recommendations designed to encourage Americans of all ages – birth to older age — to choose healthy and enjoyable foods and beverages that promote health and prevent disease.
When it comes to grain foods, the guidelines recommend making at least half of your grain intake whole grains. They also focus on increasing nutrient-dense foods and limiting foods and beverages higher in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium in all food groups. Pasta provides
the perfect vehicle for helping you increase healthy, nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, beans and legumes, lean meats and low-fat cheeses in the diet. Consider healthy recipes from Share
the Pasta like Chicken Pasta Power Bowls with Avocado Dressing, Lemon Garlic Pasta with Grilled Veggies or Vegetarian Pho – the possibilities are endless.
There is also a greater emphasis on dietary patterns and flexibility based on lifestyle, personal preferences, culture and income level. In addition to being cost-effective, pasta is extremely versatile. There are dozens of types, shapes and sizes of pasta which can be matched with almost any cuisine, sauce, vegetable or protein.
Whether whole grain or not, pasta is a healthy food that remains an important part of a wholesome nutritious diet and can easily fit into a healthy diet. In fact, pasta is cited in all three of the healthy dietary patterns mentioned in the guidelines – the US Healthy style, the Mediterranean-style and the Vegetarian-style diet. Pasta and the Dietary Guidelines
The new Dietary Guidelines recommend selecting healthy foods that you love, are good for you, and can also be easily incorporated into your everyday diet. What better way to do this than with pasta!
The Start Simple with MyPlate campaign provides ideas and inspirations from the five MyPlate food groups that Americans can easily incorporate into their busy lives to help them improve their health and well-being over time. Starting simple can lead to realistic and positive lifestyle changes to achieve a longer and healthier life. Get involved using the hashtag: #StartSimplewithMyPlate
