20100615 Foodchat social media research food nutrition information

Many States and Territories use Healthy People as a guide to improving health. Find your State or Territory below to review plans and reports based on objectives and targets from Healthy People.

To combat rising rates of obesity and chronic disease, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines released in January offer a recipe for health that includes nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups and regular physical activity. If you’ve been following Family Meals Matter on a regular basis, you’re already well on your way to meeting the Guidelines because each week, we feature recipes that emphasize a variety of nutrient-rich food choices families can enjoy from all the food groups.

These resources will provide useful information to answer your questions about processed foods and modern food production. The materials demonstrate how the food supply chain - which includes farmers, food manufacturers, distributors, grocers, food service establishments, and others – is able to bring us a variety of safe, high-quality foods every day that are also tasty, convenient, nutritious, fresh and affordable. 

Our positive approach guest blog series included several key ideas and ways to think differently. It is heartening that so many health professionals and experts in the field of nutrition share our vision that letting go of guilt, listening to our bodies and enjoying nutritious food are the keys to long-term good health.

Food is an intensely personal choice. It’s also become a topic of great debate flamed by fitness “experts”, fads and activists. Michele Payn-Knoper doesn’t believe in telling people how to eat – just as she doesn’t believe in telling people how to farm. It’s all about choice. We encourage food choices based upon science and insight from those in agriculture who have firsthand experience. This list does not represent every food blogger, but rather people who work professionally in nutrition, food science and related arenas.

I used to think that the nutritional value of each food item was fairly consistent  across the board.  For example, a potato grown in one state should have fairly similar nutrient content to a spud grown in any other state.  And as for potatoes grown during my grandpa's day, they should compare fairly close to today's.  A potato is a potato, right?  After about 10 yrs. of studying and learning about nutrient density in food, I found that nutrient density has diminished in most if not all of our foods.

Healthy Schools Campaign advocates for policies and practices that allow all students, teachers and staff to learn and work in a healthy school environment.

The International Food Information Council Foundation hosted a webcast that debuted the findings from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Alliance consumer research on December 14, 2010. The webcast explored how nutrition communicators can encourage families to achieve a healthy weight and active lifestyle through food and physical activity. Download a copy of the slides (PDF) used in the webcast. Listen to the recorded webcast.