Sustainable Dietary Guidelines: What Should They Say?

Every five years, the USDA establishes Dietary Guidelines for Americans, presenting an updated synthesis of scientific evidence regarding the dietary choices most likely to result in a healthy society.  To date, these guidelines have considered only the nutritional health of individuals, but have included no information about the dietary patterns most likely to result in a well-nourished and food-secure population over the long term.

In this presentation, I will present a brief review of evidence regarding what dietary choices are most sustainable.  The review will be drawn partly from the review performed by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, and will include additional synthesis.  Next, I will highlight areas where the evidence is strongest and/or where an item is otherwise highly appropriate for inclusion in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Finally, I will discuss challenges related to the language and framing used to communicate messages about sustainability in the dietary guidelines. 

(This presentation is being submitted as part of the full session proposal, "Putting Short-term and Long-term Health in all Policies:  Sustainable Dietary Guidelines for Americans.")