Overall, Americans appear to be making slight but noticeable improvement in their food choices. But in terms of the proper balance of specific foods, there is room for change. The index measures 10 components of an individual's diet, including serving size, variety of foods eaten and consumption of saturated fat, expressing the results on a scale between zero and 100. Small, reasonable changes in a person's overall eating pattern and physical activity, made over time, are the best way to incorporate healthful food choices into your individual diet, preferences and lifestyle.
Small steps work better than giant leaps.
We need more than 40 nutrients for good health and no single food supplies them all. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the nutrition facts panel on food labels as a guide. Everything in moderation. If a favorite food is high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much and how often these foods are eaten. Changing too much too fast can get in the way of success.