Health Beat: Healthy eating patterns

Individuals should meet the following recommendations as part of a healthy eating pattern while staying within their calorie needs. The complete list may be found in the HHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010:n Increase vegetable and fruit intake.

* Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green and red and orange vegetables and beans and peas.

* Consume at least half of all grains as whole grains. Increase whole-grain intake by replacing refined grains with whole grains.

* Choose foods that provide more potassium, dietary fiber, calcium and vitamin D, which are nutrients of concern in American diets. Those foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and milk and milk products.