Nutrition Facts labels: These are the labels found on
the packaging of some fresh foods and most proc-
essed foods. They provide detailed information on
specific nutritional content. People can learn a lot
about the composition of foods from reading these
labels. The labels can also be useful for learning to
predict what the composition of restaurant or take-
out food might be. For example, the label of a frozen
supermarket pizza can be used as a guide to the
calories and nutrients that a restaurant pizza is likely
to contain.
Nutrition handouts: Health care practitioners usu-
ally have handy sheet material concerning nutri-
tional advice in their waiting rooms. Dentists
commonly provide people with dietary tips on how
to avoid tooth decay and maintain oral hygiene.
Supermarkets also regularly distribute nutritional
information on foods at checkouts and in special
displays.
Nutrition classes and lectures: Medical foundations,
community colleges, and consumer groups organize
lectures that are open to the general public in many
communities across the United States. Online nutri-
tion classes and webcasts are also available on the
Internet.
Patient handouts: These contain detailed dietary
information for specific health conditions as well as
recommendations on foods that may help recovery
and foods that should be avoided.
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs): RDAs
recommend the average daily level of a nutrient that
is sufficient to provide its adequate requirement for
nearly all individuals in a life stage and gender group.
RDAs are widely provided in almost all diets and
nutrition advice material.
Food Guide Pyramid: The Food Guide Pyramid is
provided and updated by the United Stated Depart-
ment of Agriculture (USDA) and represents a popu-
lar way for people to understand how to eat healthy.
It was designed to help kids and parents understand
dietary guidelines. A rainbow of colored stripes rep-
resents the five food groups to make it easy to select
the foods providing the nutrients and other substan-
ces needed for good health. Most of the daily serv-
ings of food should be selected from the food groups
that are the largest in the picture and closest to the
base of the pyramid. The pyramid shows that foods
from the grain group, along with vegetables and
fruits, are the basis of healthful diets.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP): The USDA Expanded Food and Nutri-
tion Education Program (EFNEP) is designed to
assist limited resource audiences in acquiring the
knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior necessary
for nutritionally sound diets, and to contribute to
their personal development and the improvement of
the total family diet and nutritional well-being. It
provides reputable sources of scientific and con-
sumer nutrition information for consumers and pro-
fessionals in the form of newsletters, publications,
and Internet links.
Family nutrition programs (FNP). Often sponsored
by the USDA Food Stamp Program, these programs
provide nutrition education to limited resource indi-
viduals and families in almost all states. They are
managed by departments of Human Nutrition or of
Social Services and by health associations and
foundations.Distributors of nutrition education materials
There are several organizations and agencies that
distribute nutrition information as printed matter
(books, booklets, brochures, fact sheets) or on their
websites. They also organize conferences and lectures.
Some of the most trusted are listed below.United Stated Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
Through its Food and Nutrition Information
Center (FNIC), the USDA distributes a wealth of
food and human nutrition information since 1971. It
provides credible, accurate, as well as practical resour-
ces for nutrition and health professionals, educators,
government personnel and consumers. It also main-
tains a popular website called MyPyramid.govfor
people of all age groups to help them make smart
choices from every food group, balance food and
physical activity, and to stay within recommended
daily calorie needs.American Dietetic Association
The association has the goal of linking nutrition
and health. It is the largest organization of food and
nutrition professionals in the United States. It offers
numerous food and nutrition information distributed
in many forms. Examples are:
Nutrition fact sheets (Nutrition for Everyone, Weight
Management, Kid’s Nutrition Needs)
The good nutrition reading list (365 Days of Healthy
Eating from the American Dietetic Association, The
College Student’s Guide to Eating Well on Campus,
A Healthier You: Based on the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans)Nutrition literacy