Food is not about rules; it’s about friends, family, memories, great flavors, and good health. But since there is so much conflicting information these days, it’s hard to know what to believe about food and health.

The best advice is to follow some basic nutrition guidelines. These guidelines help to build a foundation of facts so no matter what new information or controversies arise, you can make a sensible decision.

Think of your body as a high performance machine. Like any machine, it seems to run more smoothly when you pay attention to the “owners manual”—in this case, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid. The Dietary Guidelines explain how to eat to promote good health and the Food Guide Pyramid is like a blueprint for total diet. It shows you how to turn the Dietary Guidelines into food choices. It guides you toward a variety of foods and helps you keep your diet balanced so you get all the nutrients you need. Finally the food label—both the nutrition facts panel and the ingredients list—is the special tool you need to compare foods so you can make informed decisions.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans

• Eat a Variety of Foods.
• Balance the Food You Eat with Physical Activity; Maintain or Improve Your Weight.
• Choose a Diet Low in Fat, Saturated Fat, and Cholesterol.
• Choose a Diet Moderate in Simple Sugars and Refined Carbohydrates.
• Choose a Diet Moderate in Salt and Sodium.
• If You are Over the Age of 21 and Drink Alcoholic Beverages, Do So in Moderation.