Houston Chronicle Features Brighter Bites Co-Founder Dr. Shreela Sharma

Every five years the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publish a set of dietary guidelines in a report based upon the recommendations of a committee of scientists who are experts in nutrition, health and medicine. The newest report, the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published this month, focuses on making healthy dietary choices to improve and maintain health and prevent diet-related chronic disease. The report makes several recommendations, which can be read here. The five overarching guidelines of the report are:

1. Follow a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan. All food and beverage choices matter. Choose a healthy eating pattern at an appropriate calorie level to help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, support nutrient adequacy, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
2. Focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount. To meet nutrient needs within calorie limits, choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods across and within all food groups in recommended amounts.
3. Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake. Consume an eating pattern low in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium. Cut back on foods and beverages higher in these components to amounts that fit within healthy eating patterns.
4. Shift to healthier food and beverage choices. Choose nutrient-dense foods and beverages across and within all food groups in place of less healthy choices. Consider cultural and personal preferences to make these shifts easier to accomplish and maintain.
5. Support healthy eating patterns for all. Everyone has a role in helping to create and support healthy eating patterns in multiple settings nationwide, from home to school to work to communities.

Brighter Bites Co-founder, Dr. Shreela Sharma, an expert in nutrition, commented on the Dietary Guidelines for an article in today’s Houston Chronicle. In addition to her role on the Brighter Bites Board of Directors, Dr. Sharma is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health, where her research portfolio includes her leadership in several nutrition-focused research projects.