Take a Peak Nutritional Criteria

The nutritional criteria for Take a Peak are based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, MyPyramid food guidance system, FDA labeling regulations, as well as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Eating Plan endorsed by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines. The criteria showcase foods and beverages that provide a realistic and practical way for consumers to make the transition from what they’re eating today to dietary patterns recommended by MyPyramid and the 2005 Dietary Guidelines.

Development of Nutritional Criteria

The central goal of the campaign is to promote those foods the government has determined are critical for a healthy diet as outlined below.

MyPyramid describes a healthy diet as one that:
• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products;
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.

With these three bullet points as guiding principles, a set of general guidelines and a set of specific nutritional criteria for the Take a Peak Campaign were developed.

General guidelines for the My Pyramid Take a Peak in-store promotion includes one or more of the following:

1) Provide meaningful and incremental steps to help individuals follow the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid
2) Emphasize MyPyramid food groups and oils

In order for a food or beverage to participate in the Take a Peak campaign, it must:

1. Provide a meaningful contribution toward reaching the total daily amount required within the five food groups or oils based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

2. Limit the specific nutrients - saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Take a Peak includes maximum levels for saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium(1). The concept is that these levels provide a ceiling for these nutrients and at the same time fit nicely with the underlying theme of MyPyramid that encourages Americans to take small steps to improve their diets.

Take a Peak did not include the total fat criteria for individual foods and beverages because the new message in MyPyramid is “Choose fats wisely. Make the most of your fat sources from fish, nuts and vegetable oils”.

3. Proper hydration is important when participating in physical activity and during hot weather. In addition to the beverages that are eligible for Take a Peak (i.e. 100% fruit and vegetable juice, non-fat, low-fat, and reduced fat milk); non-caloric beverages and beverages containing very few calories can participate in the program. Non-caloric beverages and beverages containing very few calories not only help Americans maintain proper hydration but also help control daily caloric intake.(2) Beverages with less than 20 calories per serving, which include: water, unsweetened iced tea, diet soft drinks, powdered drink mixes, can participate in the program.

(1) The maximum levels are the current FDA defined disclosure levels for individual foods.
(2) The American Diabetes Association describes beverages that are considered a "free food" as one with less than 20 calories and 5 grams carbohydrate per serving.

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