Your sister has evaluated her usual diet by comparing it to the USDA Food Intake Patterns and has found that her intakes of fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods are lower than recommended. How would you interpret her results? A She is choosing too many different kinds of fruits and vegetables. B She needs to eat more of these foods and less of others to keep her calories balanced. C She could use sauces and dips to make vegetables more palatable, thereby increasing her vegetable intake. D Her calorie intake is too low so she needs to increase her food intake. E She is choosing the right foods because her intake matches the average American diet.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B: She needs to eat more of these foods and less of others to keep her calories balanced.
Explanation:
When evaluating dietary patterns, the USDA Food Intake Patterns provide recommendations on the optimal number of servings from different food groups to ensure proper nutrient intake and to maintain a healthy balance of calories. In this case, if your sister’s intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods is lower than recommended, it implies that these important food groups are underrepresented in her diet.
The USDA guidelines emphasize the need for a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables because these foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Dairy products are important for providing calcium, vitamin D, and protein, which contribute to bone health, among other benefits. A diet that lacks adequate servings from these groups may result in nutrient deficiencies, affecting her overall health.
To improve her diet and maintain a calorie balance, she should aim to increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and dairy, while potentially reducing the intake of other less nutritious foods. This could involve cutting back on processed foods, sugary snacks, or fatty items that might be contributing to excess calorie intake. By making these adjustments, your sister would better meet her nutritional needs and align with the USDA recommendations.
In addition, simply increasing food intake without considering food quality or nutrient density might not solve the issue. It is important that the additional calories come from nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Replacing high-calorie, low-nutrient foods with healthier options is a more effective and sustainable approach to meeting her dietary goals.