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The ABCs of health
By Kay Hagen
 Eating right may become as easy as remembering your ABCs, thanks to new dietary guidelines that have a more user-friendly format.
The "ABCs of Health," released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, promote three main concepts. Bill Evers, Purdue Extension www.ces.purdue.edu/ specialist in foods and nutrition, says that knowing the guidelines fit into three groups will help people remember them.
"A" is for "Aim for Fitness," which stresses the need for a healthy weight and physical activity.
"B" is for "Building a Healthy Base," which encourages people to use the Food Guide Pyramid to choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables.
And "C," "Choose Sensibly," emphasizes the need to make sensible choices to promote health and reduce the risk of disease.
According to Evers, the "ABCs of Health" aren't really new rules, but guidelines that have been revamped and expanded. "There has been a shift in emphasis, a shift toward the knowledge that physical activity is as important as watching weight and calories," he says.
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