Nutrient

Maximum

Basis of recommendation and source of supporting evidence

Calories

700 calories

• Based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet. This is an average calorie range for adults.
• While individual calorie needs vary depending on age, activity level, and weight goals, a 2,000 calorie diet is often used as a reference, such as in determining Daily Values (DV) for Nutrition Facts labels .
• Assuming a person is eating three meals a day, one meal will provide approximately one-third of the day’s calories.

Fat

• Dietary fat directly impacts blood cholesterol levels, and therefore impacts cardiovascular health.
• Since heart disease remains the largest cause of death in the United States , we feel that Smart Choice items should be, above all, heart-healthy.
• While there is no clear consensus regarding the exact amount of recommended dietary fat, some aspects of dietary fats are well-documented; these form the basis of our criteria regarding fats, detailed below.

• Total fat

27 grams

• Research has shown that diets providing up to 35% of total calories from fat, as long as most of the fat is unsaturated, can help maintain or improve blood cholesterol levels .  The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends this range of fat as part of its Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes.
• 27 grams of fat provide 35% of calories in a 700 calorie meal. 

• Saturated fat

6 grams

• The American Heart Association recommends that 7% or fewer calories come from saturated fat to decrease cardiovascular disease risk.
• 6 grams saturated fat provides 7% of calories in a 700 calorie meal.

• Trans fat

0 grams

•   The dangers of trans fat are well documented. Trans fats decrease “good” HDL cholesterol and increase “bad” LDL cholesterol in the blood.
•   Trans fat must now be listed on Nutrition Facts labels , and several cities (New York, Boston, and California ) have introduced legislation to phase out trans fats in restaurants and schools.
• The federal Institute of Medicine and Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommend “that trans fatty acid consumption be as low as possible.”

• Cholesterol

100 milligrams

• A maximum of 300 mg dietary cholesterol per day is widely recommended for heart health. ,
• 100 mg is one-third of the 300 mg daily total.

Sodium

770 milligrams

• Based on abundant research, many large health organizations and health guidelines (American Heart Association, Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension / DASH) now recommend a maximum of 2300 mg/day sodium to prevent high blood pressure.
• People trying to lower blood pressure through dietary changes may need to consume even less sodium, or 1500 mg/day.
• 770mg is approximately one-third of 2300mg daily total.

Healthful Nutrients and Food Groups

At least 10% Daily Value (a “good source”) of one or more of the following nutrients: Calcium, Potassium, Fiber, Magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

OR

One or more servings of the following food groups: fruits, vegetables, or whole grains.

• The Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies the listed nutrients and food groups as lacking in the American diet. These nutrients and foods are included in the national Smart Choices program as “nutrients to encourage.”
• The Daily Value is calculated by dividing the amount of a nutrient in the food by the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for the nutrient and multiplying by 100%.
• We base serving size on the USDA’s interactive eating guide, www.mypyramid.gov, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommendations for a 2,000 calorie diet. Servings in Smart Choice recipes should be:
• Fruits: ½ cup equivalent (1/2 cup fruit, ½ cup 100% juice, ¼ cup dried fruit)
• Vegetables: 1 cup equivalent (1 cup raw or cooked vegetables or juice, or 2 cups leafy raw vegetables)
• Whole grains: 1 ounce equivalent (1 ounce slice bread, 1 cup ready to eat cereal, or ½ cup cooked rice, pasta, or cooked cereal)