Final answer:
To align with healthy eating patterns, balance calorie intake with physical activity and choose a variety of nutrient-rich foods while limiting unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium. Use the 'MyPlate' visual guide for balanced meals and make enjoyable small changes for lasting healthy habits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shifts Needed to Align Healthy Eating Patterns
To align with healthy eating patterns, individuals should focus on making dietary changes that balance calorie intake with physical activity, which is central to weight management. A reflection of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasizes the importance of following a healthy eating pattern that includes a variety of nutrients and limits saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and sodium. It is essential to consume a diverse range of foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins, and it's recommended that grains and dairy products should be consumed in their whole or low-fat forms.
To promote a healthier lifestyle, the 'MyPlate' approach simplifies planning a balanced diet. By visually dividing your plate into sections for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein, with a side of low-fat dairy, it ensures a variety of nutrients within a proper calorie range. Furthermore, incorporating small, enjoyabl changes like adding extra fruit to your diet can create personal 'MyWins' and help establish long-term healthy eating habits.
Challenges in following a healthy diet often arise from seeing increased portion sizes, a prevalence of high-calorie and high-sodium foods (SOFAS), and a sedentary lifestyle. To counter these issues, it is important to develop self-awareness regarding food choices, engage in regular physical activity, and apply evidence-based strategies to foster holistic wellness and healthier food consumption.