To meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, choose a diet based on grain products, vegetables, fruits, lowfat milk products, lean meats, fish, poultry, and dry beans. Choose fewer calories from fats and sweets. Maintain a healthful body weight by balancing what you eat with physical activity. If you are sedentary, try to become more active. If you are already very active, try to continue the same level of activity as you age.
More physical activity is better than less, and any is better than none.
If your weight is not in the healthy range, try to reduce health risks through better eating and exercise habits. Let the Food Guide Pyramid guide to the nutrients your body needs each day. Make grains, fruits, and vegetables the foundation of your meals. This forms a base for good nutrition and good health and may reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases. Be flexible and adventurous-try new choices from these three groups in place of some less nutritious foods you usually eat.