Food Patterns and HEI Scoring

 

The USDA Food Patterns Are the Foundation of the HEI Scoring Standards

An eating pattern represents the totality of all foods and beverages consumed. The USDA Food Patterns are a set of eating patterns that exemplify healthy eating. They include recommended intakes for the five food groups and for the subgroups within vegetables, grains, and protein foods. They also recommend an allowance for intake of oils. The USDA Food Patterns are used to determine the scoring standards for the HEI. Assigning HEI scores to a set of foods requires translating them into amounts of food groups that are consistent with the USDA Food Patterns. The Food Patterns Equivalents Database4 converts the foods and beverages in the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies5 to the USDA Food Patterns components. To calculate the HEI score, all foods are broken down into their respective food groups and subgroups (Total Fruit, Whole Fruit, Total Vegetables, Greens and Beans, Whole Grains, Dairy, Total Protein Foods, Seafood and Plant Proteins, Fatty Acids, Refined Grains, Sodium, Empty Calories). Any solid fats and added sugars are counted separately.