The USDA: the not so hidden resource on what we should eat and do.
I recently lost over 50 lb. and I wanted to see what the USDA says about what we should eat. I also make most of the baby food for my daughter and I wanted to be uncertain as to what foods and in what quantity I should give her to eat at each stage of development. The USDA website has many resources for Download in PDF format. As well, they have several printed documents you can order for free (including free shipping!) within the U.S.
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I have listed the following documents in the order that I have found them helpful.
USDA Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion Publications.
The New Food Pyramid.
NOTE: The food Pyramid now includes individualized pyramids based on age, gender and physical activity)
Search Programs for USDA Food Composition Databases to look up nutrition information on 7,146 different commonly used foods including some commercial foods. The program has been converted for Palm and Desktop use or you can look up the information online. I’ve used the program to lookup ingredients when I’ve thrown out the wrapper for the item. I also like that it has the nutrition value on some items for after they are cooked. For instance 1 link of pork sausage has .65 less fat grams once it is cooked and therefore fewer calories at only 81 kcal/link verses 85 kcal/link.
Note that fats are described as “Total lipid (fat)” and specific types of fats are listed at the end of the information.
Menu Magic For Children: Includes Dietary guidelines for Children Birth to age 12 (pp. 5-9.) This is a beautiful publication (USDA132) that is worth ordering a printed copy to have a reference.
Starting Solids: Nutrition Guide for Infants and Children 6 to 18 Months of Age.
USDA Team Nutrition Resources for children!!! Many wonderful resources for download in PDF format to reproduce for classroom or personal use.
Nibbles for Health is an excellant resource for classroom use as well as for those who want to teach their children about nutrition. The printed document is worth having shipped if you think you will use the resource. The binder includes both colored and black and white handouts to copy for classroom use.
Almost all of the Appendixes of “Building Blocks for Fun and Happy Meals” contain good information for the general public. Page 8 of the Introduction lists the contents of the Appendix.
Appendix D contains Major Nutrients the body needs, why each is need, how they are used by the body, and a basic list of foods that contain the major nutrients.
Appendix B specifically has Vitamin A, C, Calcium and Iron with a helpful, specific list of foods that contain the vitamin or mineral.
Reading the Nutrition Label (With the new Trans Fat info): A PowerPoint presentation on what it means and how to read it.
Dietary Guidelines 2005: Executive Summary OR Full Document
Weight Loss: Finding a Program That Works for You
International Food Information Council Educational Booklets & Brochures.
————– Documents for Postal Delivery of Materials ————–
USDA- Team Nutrition.
International Food Information Council Educational Publications Order Form.
