AGE | Year Long Healthy Eating Using SMART Goals and the new Dietary Recommendations for Americans, 2025-2030.
Mindy Meuli, MS, RD
Setting SMART goals can help us make small changes to improve our health at any life stage. SMART goals are especially valuable because they provide a step-by-step plan to reach our goal. They provide us with a sense of direction, motivation, and clear focus for actions to take.
S – Specific: A good goal is specific – think about a specific food group or activity, rather than generally eating healthier or being more active.
M – Measurable: Measurable goals have a number attached to them, such as eating one extra cup of vegetables/day or walking for 10 minutes after dinner.
A – Attainable: Goals that are attainable can be acted on and met with reasonable effort.
R – Relevant: Goals should be relevant to what a participant wants to attain.
T – Time-Bound: A time-bound goal has an end date (for example, after one week), after which the individual can evaluate their progress and set new goals.
An example of a healthy eating SMART Goal is:
To improve my health, I will eat at least 1 fruit and 1 vegetable for 5 days this week.
Once you have reached your goal and it has become a routine, add another goal until you have achieved a balanced diet following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
- Eat the Right Amount for You
- Prioritize Protein Foods at Every Meal
- Consume Dairy
- Eat Vegetables and Fruit Throughout the Day
- Incorporate Healthy Fats
- Focus on Whole Grains
- Limit Highly Processed Foods, Added Sugars, and Refined Carbohydrates
- Limit Alcoholic Beverages
For more information on the new pyramid go to https://realfood.gov
Source: UW Cent$ible Nutrition Program Curriculum – Lesson 3 and the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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