It’s now easier for the U-M community to identify and choose foods on campus that demonstrate basic good nutrition. For the last year, MHealthy and its partners have been working to update the MHealthy Nutrition Guidelines.
Foods that meet these guidelines are designated with the MHealthy logo and can be found in campus vending machines, at select campus eateries and through select catering providers.
The guidelines are also reflected in MHealthy’s nutrition programs and resources such as the MHealthy Recipes database and upcoming chef demonstrations.
Guideline updates include:
• Increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and whole grains.
• Decreasing intake of saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium.
• Limiting portion sizes and calories per serving.
• New healthy fats category.
• New “added sugar” limits.
• For snack bars, the first two ingredients should be nuts, seeds, fruits or whole grains.
• For cereals and bread products, the first ingredient must be a whole grain.
• Desserts are no longer considered for MHealthy designation.
“Our goal is to help our community make the healthier choice,” says Erica Owen, manager of MHealthy’s nutrition and weight management. “When you see the MHealthy logo in a campus vending machine or next to a menu item at the Union, it means more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, and less saturated fats, added sugars and sodium.”
The MHealthy nutrition guidelines were created in partnership with Michigan Medicine Retail Food Services; School of Public Health Nutrition Services; Michigan Dining; MHealthy; Michigan Medicine Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes; Michigan Medicine Patient Food & Nutrition Services, and Michigan Medicine Preventive Cardiology.
The updates correspond with the 2015-20 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released by the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services and of Agriculture.
