For Health Professionals

It’s Time for a Shift Toward Positive Nutrition Education

It is time to put decades of avoidance-based nutrition education – that which focuses on nutrients and foods to avoid – behind us and shift to a positive nutrition education approach that will help Americans achieve better health. The science-based Nutrient Rich Foods approach can be part of the solution. It’s a new way to build healthier diets by taking into account the total package of nutrients in foods and beverages and first choosing nutrient-dense – or nutrient-rich – foods that provide a substantial amount of nutrients and relatively fewer calories.

As a health professional, your role is critical in helping overweight^1,2 and undernourished^3,4 Americans stop simply counting calories and instead make calories count more by teaching them how to identify and enjoy nutrient-rich foods and beverages as the foundation of a balanced, lifelong eating plan.

Take Action: Help People Achieve Better Health with Nutrient Rich Foods

In this section, you will find an abundance of information and resources created specifically for health professionals to educate themselves and others about the Nutrient Rich Foods approach.

• The Science Behind the Nutrient Rich Foods Approach – Learn more about the principles and process behind the Nutrient Rich Foods Index, review published science and hear from other nutrition experts who support the Nutrient Rich Foods approach
• Achieve Better Health with Nutrient Rich Foods Resource Guide – Get comprehensive background on the science and consumer insights behind the Nutrient Rich Foods approach and find all of the information and resources you need to understand and tell others about living the nutrient-rich foods way
• Nutrient Rich Foods Teaching Tools – Find Nutrient Rich Foods resources to use with patients and clients and to share with your peers in the nutrition and health community

References:

1. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Flegal KM. High body mass index for age among US children and adolescents, 2003-2006. J Am Med Assoc 2008;299(20):2401-2405.
2. Ogden C, Carroll M, Curtin L, McDowell M, Tabak C, Flegal K. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. J Am Med Assoc 2006;295(13):1549-1555.
3. Moshfegh A, Goldman J, Cleveland L. What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual Nutrient Intakes from Food compared to Dietary Reference Intakes. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. September, 2005. www.ars.usda.gov/foodsurvey
4. Department of Health and Human Services/US Department of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. Available at: http://www.healthgove/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/. Accessed December 1, 2005.