Project Foodie - Healthful Ratings

Healthful Ratings

About Project Foodie Healthful Ratings

Here at Project Foodie we believe food should not only be enjoyed but also add to our health and quality of life. According to the American Dietetic Association, all foods can fit into a healthful diet, however, common sense tells us that moderation is key - some foods should be saved for special occasions and even then, in small amounts.

That's why we're be providing a Healthful Rating to recipes we pick for "On our plate" entries. These ratings range from 1 (less healthy) to 5 (more healthy) and are intended to give you an idea of the "healthiness" of the recipes. For example, the Healthful Rating may help you to distinguish between everyday recipes and those to use for special occasions. It is important to remember though, that these Healthful Ratings are for one recipe and should be considered as part of your entire daily intake - along with all other foods consumed during the day.

How are the Project Foodie Healthful Ratings chosen?

The Project Foodie Healthful Ratings are based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). The DGAs are targeted at people two years and older with the goal of showing good dietary habits to promote health and are used for Federal food and nutrition education programs. Some of these daily guidelines include:

Eat a variety of foods.
Eat a diet high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
Eat a diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol - less than 30% of calories from total fat, less than 10% of calories from saturated fat, and less than 300 mg cholesterol.
Eat a diet moderate in sugar.
Eat a diet moderate in salt - limit sodium to 2400 mg per day.
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

Using these guidelines, the Project Foodie Healthful Ratings are assigned to recipes such that when more guidelines are met the Healthful Rating for that recipe increases. That is, a recipe meeting most of the guidelines will have a Healthful Rating of 5 whereas recipes meeting fewer guidelines will be given a lower rating.

Who is the Project Foodie Healthful Ratings Dietician?

Linda Sweeney is a Registered Dietitian and member of the American Dietetic Association. She has a Masters in Nutrition with an emphasis in Nutrition Education from San Jose State University. After having worked as a clinical dietitian and a consultant for skilled nursing facilities, she is presently a public health nutritionist. Her work emphasizes community health promotion through good food choices and increased physical activity.

From the Lawyers...

All Project Foodie content, including Healthful Ratings, is provided for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. You should consult a doctor or other licensed health professional prior to making any substantial changes to your diet.

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