By

Necola F. D. Avery
Kaplan University
A Guide for Optimal Health

Multicultural
Resources for
Contemporary
Diet and
Nutrition

2015 DIETARY GUIDELINES

In todays society, it is detrimental for each person to monitor their daily
diet substances. Consuming a well-balanced diet is instrumental to living a long
hale and hearty life. Not to mention, living a healthy lifestyle lessens the chances of
being diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure. For
these reasons, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) have joined together to establish The Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. In short, these guidelines promote the concept of
consuming fewer calories, making informed food choices, and being physically
active to attain and maintain a healthy weight (United States Department of
Agriculture, 2014).

RESOURCES
My Plate provides a guideline for Americans to consume more
fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and
milk products. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
Healthy Recipes provides 400+ recipes to best budget friendly
food selections http://greatist.com/health/cheap-healthyrecipe-collection
Whats really in your food? Do you really know what you are
eating?

Americas Food: What You Dont Know About What You Eat
by Harvey Blatt

CHILDHOOD OBESITY
As it stands today, the hot topic of concern is childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in
adolescents in the past 30 years (Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
2014). The percentage of children aged 611 years in the United States who
were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. As a culture,
we need to get a handle on this. Our children should be our #1 priority. If we
dont get this under control now, where will be 20 years from now?

RESOURCES
Balance the calories your child eats and drinks with the calories used
through physical activity and normal growth. Read this article to learn how!
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/Childho
odObesity/Preventing-Childhood-Obesity-Tips-for-Parents-andCaretakers_UCM_456118_Article.jsp
Watch this alarming video regarding childhood obesity statics!
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/childhood-obesity-experts-parentsunderestimating-weight-children-24803390
Understand the global strategies to combat this epidemic. This is provided
by the World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/WHO_new_childhood
obesity_PREVENTION_27nov_HR_PRINT_OK.pdf
The Lets Move campaign was developed by First Lady Michelle Obama to
solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. Read more
about it http://www.letsmove.gov/

ORGANIC VS CONVENTIONAL
Organic or Conventional? This still remains a debate among many.
So, my answer would be, it depends on your preference of how food is
grown and preserved. To date, it has not been proven of which is more
nutritional. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, a recent study examined the past
50 years' worth of scientific articles about the nutrient content of organic
and conventional foods. The researchers concluded that organically and
conventionally produced foodstuffs are not significantly different in their
nutrient content (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). So how do you make the
determination on which is better for you?

RESOURCES
This article will enlighten you about the real differences between
organic foods and their traditionally grown counterparts when it
comes to nutrition, safety and price.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-andhealthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880?pg=1
Which is better, organic or conventional fruits?
http://ucanr.edu/datastoreFiles/608-794.pdf

What to buy organic or not? This book will give you all the tips you
need. To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to
Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food by Cindy
Burke

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For the most current news in health and wellness, visit

U.S. News and World Report-Health for information to
maintain a healthy lifestyle for you and your family
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness
Visit Tara-Parker Pope on Health blog for great
information on overall health
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/?_r=0
Dr. Ann Kulze introduces how to Eat Right for Life
http://www.drannwellness.com/about-meet-dr-annvideo.cfm
Calculate your childs Body Mass Index here
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growth/bmi_charts.
html
Physical guidelines for Americans
http://www.fitness.gov/be-active/physical-activityguidelines-for-americans/
20 Snacks that Burn Fat
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20682477,00.ht
ml
Healthy Snacks for Kids
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/healthy-kids-snacks
Watch local health and wellness videos brought to you by
PBS http://www.pbs.org/topics/health/
Wellness and Lifestyle
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyl
e.html

 Organic Living http://www.organiclivingmag.com/

Choose My Plate food selections videos
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/videos.html
REFERENCES
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, Feb 27).Childhood
obesity facts. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, Jul 19). Organic foods: Are they safer? More
nutritious? Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-andhealthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880?pg=1
United States Department of Agriculture. (2014, June 24).Dietary
guidelines. Retrieved from
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/dietary-guidelines.html