Lessons from 40 years of Dietary Guidelines for Americans

by odin wears 

Feature Evolution of the DGA reflects advances in nutrition science and shifts in the nation’s dietary habits.

The history of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provides a fascinating glimpse into what has stayed the same (eat plenty of fruits and veggies) and what has changed (dietary cholesterol isn’t so evil after all) in the past four decades.

Issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the DGA have amassed immense influence since the first ones were published in 1980. All U.S. nutrition policy, dietary guidance and feeding programs must align with the DGA, including

nationwide school lunch and breakfast programs,
WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children),
nutrition programs for older adults, and
meals served by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
And that’s not all: From food marketers to dietitians to cookbook authors, a vast swath of professionals monitor changes in the DGA for clues on where nutrition science is going and advice on helping Americans to eat better. With that in mind, let’s review where the DGA came from, how they’ve changed and where they are today.


1980: Short and Sweet

The first DGA asked a simple question: “What should you eat to stay healthy?” (DGA 1980). Back then, the guidelines were published as a short brochure called Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The brochure provided seven concise recommendations for preventing chronic disease in healthy people, based on the 1977 Dietary Goals and the 1979 Surgeon General’s Report (DGAC 2015, Appendix E-6).

DGA 1980

Eat a variety of foods.
Maintain ideal weight.
Avoid too much fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
Eat foods with adequate starch and fiber.
Avoid too much sugar.
Avoid too much sodium.
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
2000: Emphasizing Diet Over Nutrients
The DGA grew much more sophisticated in 2000. Seven guidelines were expanded to 10 in an expansive policy document with significantly more explanation of the science than in previous versions (DGA 2000). Suzanne Murphy, PhD, RD, emeritus researcher at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and a member of the 2000 DGAC, says this panel was the first to see the value in describing healthy dietary patterns as well as highlighting healthy foods and food groups.

“We said, ‘Build your eating pattern on a variety of grains, fruit and vegetables.’ This approach has been utilized by all of the advisory committees since,” notes Murphy. The Guidelines now mentioned whole grains, listed fruits and vegetables as a separate recommendation, and added food safety to the mix. In May 2000, President Clinton promoted the Dietary Guidelines in a radio address.

DGA 2000

Aim for fitness . . .

Aim for a healthy weight.
Be physically active every day.
Build a healthy base . . .

Let the Pyramid guide your food choices.
Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains.
Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.
Keep food safe to eat.
Choose sensibly . . .

Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat.
Choose beverages and foods to moderate your intake of sugars.
Choose and prepare foods with less salt.
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.