The Healthy Eating Index

The Healthy Eating Index

The Healthy Eating Index is a measure of diet quality that reviews how people are conforming to Federal dietary guidance. The Healthy Eating Index was first formulated by the USDA in 1995 and was renewed in 2005. The standards were created using a density approach - they are expressed as a percentage of calories per 1,000 calories. The components of the 2005-The Healthy Eating Index can be seen below:

Healthy Eating Index - 2005 components and standards for scoring1
Total Fruit (includes 100% juice)
Maximum points 5
Standard for maximum score ≥0.8 cup equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Fruit

Whole Fruit (not juice)
Maximum points 5
Standard for maximum score ≥0.4 cup equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Whole Fruit

Total Vegetables
Maximum points 5
Standard for maximum score ≥1.1 cup equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Vegetables

Dark Green and Orange No Dark Green or Orange Vegetables and Legumes2
Maximum points 5
Standard for maximum score ≥0.4 cup equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No dark green or orange Vegetables or Legumes

Total Grains
Maximum points 5
Standard for maximum score ≥3.0 oz equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Grains

Whole Grains
Maximum points 5
Standard for maximum score ≥1.5 oz equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Whole Grains

Milk3
Maximum points 10
Standard for maximum score ≥1.3 cup equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Milk

Meat and Beans
Maximum points 10
Standard for maximum score ≥2.5 oz equiv. per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Meat or Beans

Oils4
Maximum points 10
Standard for maximum score ≥12 grams per 1,000 kcal
Standard for minimum score zero - No Oil

Saturated Fat
Maximum points 10
Standard for maximum score ≤7% of energy5
Standard for minimum score zero - ≥15% of energy

Sodium
Maximum points 10
Standard for maximum score ≤0.7 gram per 1,000 kcal5
Standard for minimum score zero - ≥2.0 grams per 1,000 kcal

Calories from Solid Fats, Alcoholic beverages, and Added Sugars (SoFAAS)
Maximum points 20
Standard for maximum score ≤20% of energy
Standard for minimum score zero - ≥50% of energy

1 Intakes between the minimum and maximum levels are scored proportionately, except for Saturated Fat and Sodium (see note 5).
2 Legumes counted as vegetables only after Meat and Beans standard is met.
3 Includes all milk products, such as fluid milk, yogurt, and cheese, and soy beverages.
4 Includes nonhydrogenated vegetable oils and oils in fish, nuts, and seeds.
5 Saturated Fat and Sodium get a score of 8 for the intake levels that reflect the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, <10% of calories from saturated fat and 1.1 grams of sodium/1,000 kcal, respectively.
Some facts

Approximately 24 million people in the UK are overweight or obese, that is out of a total population of 61 million. Obesity rates in the UK will reach 25% of the adult population by 2010 if rates continue to grow at their present speed. The USA has already reached this point, and people continue getting fatter. The states of Mississippi and Alabama have obesity rates above 30%, while 22 other states have obesity rates all over 25%.

At least 200,000 people in the UK die prematurely each year as a result of stroke, coronary heart disease and some other illnesses that are linked to unhealthy eating and lifestyle. Many who do not die do not enjoy a painless, unrestricted and disability-free old age. According to many studies, the USA ranks last among industrialized countries when it comes to preventable deaths - many of these deaths are due to poor diet, as well as lack of exercise.

Nutritionists say that over four-fifths of men and over two-thirds of women consume excessive amounts of dietary salt in the UK. What many don't know is that 75% of their salt intake is already in the food they buy.

It is estimated that one third of all cancers could be prevented if everybody had a good diet. Healthy eating also protects from diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, strokes, and rotting teeth.