The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a program focused on healthy eating patterns as a whole rather than individual components such as food groups and nutrients. Which of the following is one of the goals of Dietary Guidelines for Americans? To follow one of the three styles of healthy eating patterns To use the guidelines as a framework to shift food choices To reduce the amount of calories consumed daily To encourage decreased consumption of all dairy products

A healthy diet is one that is well-balanced in the choice of nutrients. The major nutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The minor nutrients are vitamins and minerals. Proteins are necessary for the repair and maintenance of tissues. Carbohydrates and fats provide energy. Vitamins and minerals act as co-factors and are necessary for the proper functioning of physiological processes.

A diet that does not contain the appropriate amount of the necessary nutrients is called an unbalanced diet. A lack or deficiency of nutrients is called undernutrition. It is associated with many deficiency diseases. Over-nutrition is an excess of nutrients than the required quantity. Many metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are a result of excess calorific or nutrient intake. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is a measure of the required nutrient levels as per a person's age, gender and lifestyle.