Final answer:
When counseling individuals about nutrition, recommendations should be aimed at achieving healthy eating patterns within calorie limits. This includes a variety of foods from different food groups while limiting certain nutrients. Behavioral interventions may also be included to promote behavior change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide evidence-based recommendations for nutrition counseling. When counseling individuals about nutrition, recommendations should be aimed at keeping calorie intake in balance with physical activity, with the goal of achieving healthy eating patterns. These recommendations include following a healthy eating pattern that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein foods, and whole grains, while limiting saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and sodium. Behavioral recommendations may also be included, such as self-monitoring of food intake, nutrition education, and behavior modification.