Food-Based Approaches for Achieving Nutritional Adequacy with the Mediterranean, DASH, and USDA Food Patterns

It is evident that recommended dietary practices are integral for health and well-being. Several dietary patterns have been identified that promote health, including the DASH dietary pattern (DASH), the USDA food pattern (USDAFP) and the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP). The existing evidence base is most robust for the health benefits of MDP. The average American diet, as well as the typical western diet both fall short of meeting current nutrient and food-based recommendations. There have been countless calls for action to improve the American diet, and there is strong advocacy for implementing the MDP worldwide, including in the United States. Strategies for implementing the MDP in the US include shifting the fatty acid profile from saturated to unsaturated fatty acids, including portion-controlled lean protein foods such as fish and nuts, and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. The current chapter discusses specific nutrient and food-based shortfalls in the current American diet and summarizes the nutritional benefits of DASH, USDAFP and MDP.