According to the study, The Importance of Healthy Dietary Patterns in Chronic Disease Prevention, "healthy dietary patterns reduce the risk of the major diet-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers."That's why we put together the Building Blocks of Health series. After all, a healthy eating pattern is usually characterized by a "diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low and non-fat dairy and lean protein" (source). We took each of those categories as a different "building block" and decided to take a closer look.Each post in the Building Blocks of Health series explored the foods that made up every food group. Then we went even deeper into the key nutrients that foods in that food group provide. After exploring the impact of that food group on health, we gave you MyPlate's guide to how much of each food group should be part of your daily eating pattern. And no look at food would be complete without healthful recipes, so that's how we ended each blog post.Did you miss an installment? Or would you like everything collected in one place? Either way, here you go, the whole Building Blocks of Health series, right here!

• Introduction to the Building Blocks of Health
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Whole Grains
• Protein
• Dairy
• Building Blocks of Health: A Review

After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Good nutrition is essential for keeping Americans healthy across the lifespan. A healthy diet helps children grow and develop properly and reduces their risk of chronic diseases, including obesity. Adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Healthy eating can help people with chronic diseases manage these conditions and prevent complications."So help your clients review the Building Blocks of Health today. And, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of the poster that started it all:Oh and be sure to come back to the blog next week, when Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD, LD returns with a whole different building block for health: exercise!References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30077352/
2. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/nutrition.htm