Nutrition is the bridge between agriculture and health. As the lead Federal agency for human nutrition, USDA fulfills its health responsibility through support for a healthful and abundant food supply, getting food to peoplewho need it, and promoting healthy dietary choices.
Introducing the Healthy Eating Index, USDA is providing an important new tool for meeting our nutritional goals. It makes available for the first time a single summary measure to monitor changes in food consumption patterns.
The Healthy Eating Index measures how well the diets of all Americans conform to the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid. It will serve as a report card on the American diet, allowing researchers to analyze how Americans eat, and aid USDA in developing more effective nutrition promotion messages for all our programs and for the general public.
The Healthy Eating Index was developed by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) under the direction of Dr. Eileen Kennedy, in cooperation with USDA's Food and Consumer Service and Agricultural Research Service. Within the Department, the Center serves as the focal point for linking scientific research to the nutritional needs of the American consumer.
Today, USDA is a recognized leader in nutrition and health. By increasing our knowledge of what we eat and why, and by better understanding the impact of food choices on our health, we will continue to strengthen the nutritional knowledge of our Nation.
Ellen Haas
Undersecretary,
Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services