A good way to ensure variety is to choose foods each day from the five major food groups. Finally, the guidelines are meant for the average person, cautions Walter H. Glinsmann, M.D., FDA's associate director for clinical nutrition. Lifestyle, genetics, and conditions such as pregnancy or disease can also affect a person's nutritional needs, he explains. Dori Stehlin is a staff writer for FDA Consumer. The recommendation is that no more than 30 percent of total calories come from fat.
Food labels list fat in grams.
Weights even below the range may be appropriate for some small-boned people.