Every five years, the federal government's Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services takes on the (weighty) task of suggesting an ideal diet to maintain your optimum health. You can imagine all the challenges this involves, working with food producers, nutritionists and restaurants to come to a conclusion that works for everyone.

This time around, the guidelines are more specific than ever before.They suggest drinking more water, filling your plate with fruits and vegetables and cutting down on processed foods that have large amounts of sodium, fat or sugar.

The last time the guidelines were issued (2005), they suggested Americans cut down on sugar, fats and salt, but didn't name any specific foods.  Important this time, they tell Americans very firmly, "Eat less."

What does this mean for all of us, especially those of us who enjoy our food?  You can expect food manufacturers to make some big changes in their products.  Previously, the government urged manufacturers to replace refined grains with whole grain.  Cereal manufacturers and many bread makers did just that. 

The guidelines are being praised for their simplicity.  Maintain a healthy weight by balancing your calories, and focus on foods that are dense in nutrients.

We'll be hearing lots more about this report, and seeing how farmers, other producers, food businesses, restaurants and even your favorite supermarket respond.  At The Markets, we're all about fresh, local foods, and we'll continue to focus on bringing you these choices.