How is a food rated for Healthy Ideas? What are the criteria?
The criteria of the Healthy Ideas program are based on the principles of the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. The Dietary Guidelines describe a healthy diet as one that – Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; – Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and – Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars. The Healthy Ideas criteria reflect these guidelines. The criteria limit: – Total fat (except for fish, nuts, avocado and oils) – Saturated fat – Artificial trans fat – Cholesterol – Sodium – Added sugars in applicable categories In addition – – A Healthy Ideas food must contribute at least 10% of the Daily Value for protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron or calcium. So, a Healthy Ideas food is an overall nutritious food without being too high in any of the nutrients we should limit.
