1-17 IAN USDA Diet

Just in time to help Americans keep their New Year's resolutions by making healthy food and physical activity choices, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released USDA's new nutrition SuperTracker. The SuperTracker is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art resource available at ChooseMyPlate.gov designed to assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce their risk of chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight. Release of this new web tool comes as USDA highlights the second in a series of themed consumer messages supporting the MyPlate icon – Enjoy Your Food, But Eat Less – that USDA is promoting the next three months in conjunction with more than 5,000 organizations participating in the MyPlate Nutrition Communicators Network. Here Is Dr. Robert Post, nutritionist and co-developer of the Web site: “we are challenged to find ways to actually transcend just information giving to be able to empower consumers with ways they can actually apply dietary guidelines And to move the dial on issues like obesity, and the trends we are seeing for diet related chronic illnesses.” SuperTracker offers consumers the ability to:

•                Personalize recommendations for what and how much to eat and amount of physical activity.

•                Track foods and physical activity from an expanded database of foods and physical activities.

•                Customize features such as goal setting, virtual coaching, weight tracking and journaling.

•                Measure progress with comprehensive reports ranging from a simple meal summary to in-depth analysis of food groups and nutrient intake over time.

•                Operationalize the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines.

•                Support family and friends by adding their individual profiles.