What should we eat? Because of increasing concerns about individuals' eating habits in the United States (adults and children), a "National Action Plan to Improve the American Diet" has been written which outlines specific steps to help improve the average Americans' health. Seven major objectives were adopted to help improve health. One of the main goals is to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. A campaign known as "5 a Day for Better Health" was developed to encourage the consumption of 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day.

The Food Guide Pyramid was developed to aid in educating the public about daily dietary needs. Notice that the base of the triangle is derived from plant products: grains, fruits and vegetables: showing their importance to our diet.

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