Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Statement on 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines for Americans Scientific Report
According to the 2020-2025 United States Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) scientific report recently released, reinforced what research has consistently demonstrated: eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day is one of the most important steps Americans can take to enjoy healthier lives.
As the only non-profit dedicated to helping Americans improve their intake of all forms of fruits and vegetables, the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has assisted in translating and helping inform Americans on how they can put this critical dietary guidance into action. PBH commissioned a comprehensive review of the literature recently published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, which also reinforces the DGAC scientific report findings on the important role of fruits and vegetables to promote health and help reduce chronic disease risk.
Unfortunately, nine out of 10 Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, so PBH, along with its multi-sector network of members, is even more committed to addressing this consumption crisis and identifying innovative solutions to change behaviors for the future. With our extensive digital ecosystem and social platforms as well as our exclusive network of more than 20 ambassadors reaching Americans online at retail and in communities, PBH can bring the DGAs to life and help close the fruit and vegetable consumption gap with its unique, behavior-based Have A Plant movement. With its comprehensive consumption data tracking and consumer behavior research, as well as our extensive education platforms, PBH is ready to assist US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services, along with other state and federal agencies, in bringing creative and meaningful dietary guidance to Americans so they can enjoy fruits and vegetables for happier, healthier lives.
While the 2020 DGAC report articulates the science behind the benefits of fruits and vegetables, PBH’s research has shown that these facts, or what people know, is simply not enough to motivate behavior change. The real opportunity is when we lean into Americans’ emotional barriers and desires around fruits and vegetables – to go beyond what they simply KNOW and tap into how they FEEL and motivate them to DO something. Now is the time to bring PBH’s KNOW-FEEL-DO behavioral framework to life as subsequent, consumer-facing dietary guidance is created. PBH encourages you to submit comments to USDA and HHS, as the agencies accept feedback on the translation of the 2020 DGAC report into the 2020-2025 DGAs, through Aug. 13, 2020. Learn more here.