Idaho Dairy Council

What is a Healthy Diet?

Are you leaving food groups out of your diet? Think twice, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommends to "Make smart choices from every food group," and there are reason why …
  • The best way to give your body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day such as
    • Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
    • Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
  • Are you reaching for supplements to make your diet nutrient rich? Look at the example of milk and what you are missing by substituting calcium for milk
    • Why eat fruits and veggies, when I can take supplements? There is more to food than just minerals and vitamins.
  • Diets demand dairy daily. The newly revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans sets up a foundation for a healthy diet and encourages Americans to enjoy 3 servings of nonfat or lowfat milk and milk products each day. Moreover, probiotics, which are living microorganisms that when consumed in sufficient amounts provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, are emerging as important dietary ingredients in foods. In the U.S., food products containing these "friendly" probiotic bacteria are almost exclusively dairy products such as yogurt and cultured dairy drinks. More...
Nutrient-Rich Diets

Eating right helps you feel great and stay healthy so you can live well, but sometimes it's hard to know what advice to follow or how to get started.

The Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition Web site offers fast and reliable information to help you eat the nutrient-rich way-that means getting the most vitamins, minerals and other nutrients-but not too many calories-from the foods you choose. The information here is based on nutrition guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) MyPyramid.

This site gives you the tools, tips and tactics you need to adopt a healthier eating plan, without a lot of time, but with a lot of great taste.

Start exploring the nutrient-rich way of eating now and check back for regular updates!