Public health experts want to give people
advice that’s easy to communicate. But most
acknowledge that doing a better job of
conveying nuances and uncertainties could help
prevent mistrust and confusion.
SO WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?
Already, the U.S. dietary guidelines have
backpedaled on advice to limit total fat, which
has been blamed for encouraging people to eat
too much pasta and cookies.
In the years since, the guidelines have focused
on the saturated fat found in foods like meat,
butter and some packaged foods, saying it
should be limited to 10% of calories.
As advice around specific foods changes,
health experts have increasingly focused on the
importance of overall diets. Some note focusing
on single foods, which often have a complex
mix of nutrients, can also distract from a simpler
message: Don’t eat too much, since eating more
calories than you burn makes you gain weight.
“If everyone would just pay attention to that
one, we would solve a lot of problems,” said
Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition and
food policy at New York University.