Unit 2
Dietary Reference Intakes and Diet-planning Guides

Various countries have established nutrient standards and dietary guidelines to promote optimal health and provide a means of surveying the nutritional status of their citizens. The standard used in Canada is the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), which is also used in the USA. Diet-planning guides used in Canada and in the United States are also similar. To apply these guides correctly, one must have an understanding of their strengths and limitations, and we discuss them in this unit. This discussion is reinforced by the course assignment using Canada’s Food Guide. Finally, we look at the current Nutrition Recommendations, and how they are communicated to the public in “Canada’s Guidelines for Healthy Eating.”

This unit consists of the four sections listed below.

• Section 2.1  Recommended Dietary Allowances
• Section 2.2  Diet-planning Guides
• Section 2.3  Dietary Recommendations and Guidelines
• Section 2.4  Nutrition Information on Food Labels