Want to know whether your diet measures up? See a dietitian for an assessment to know for sure. So what about popular eating plans that cut out major food groups - such as vegans avoiding milk and paleo dieters skipping grains? Can diets be healthy if they lack “all food groups”? There are many ways to mix and match foods to create a plan that provides enough variety to meet nutrient needs, but it has to be done right. Variety is necessary to ensure you’ll get the protein, carbs, fat, vitamins and minerals needed for good health.įrom 1980 to 1995, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans included the advice to "eat a variety of foods." The 2015 Dietary Guidelines still say to "choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods across and within all food groups." Let’s be honest: There is no one superfood that can provide your body with the 40 nutrients that it requires. If you are looking for guidance you can count on now and in the future, start with these five rules. So I began to think: Wouldn't the most valuable advice be that which has stood the test of time? Combing through years of nutritional literature, I found some practical advice that holds true.
Even a study done last week will be refuted by a study this week. I wrote recently about how the nutrition "facts" we used to believe decades ago have changed.