Fall 2011 University of North Texas
HMGT 1450.001 Principles of Nutrition
Food Rule Written Statement
File Number:
F115620021
Food Rule: Avoid the Salt-shaker…
Statement: My food rule, Avoid the Salt-shaker, is an example of “what kind of food you
should eat.” My rule encourages consumers to take a hard look at their daily salt-intake.
They should be recognizing that salt-intake should be limited to the daily amount needed
for Sodium and avoid the excess. DGA 2010 agrees with my food rule as it discusses the
high intake of sodium in U.S. population’s diet. In Chapter 3, “Foods and Food Components
to Reduce”, DGA recommends a 1,500mg intake of sodium for 50% of the U.S. population.
This includes children and most adults. This amount of intake is also suggested for African
Americans as well as adults older than 51. Michael Pollan’s Rule # 34,”Sweeten and Salt
your food yourself” agrees with my food rule. Rule #34 is actually a step further that
consumers should take in order to limit their salt intake. This rule discusses how
corporations add excess salt that would rather be avoid if a normal individual were to salt
their food themselves. My food rule helps UNT students gain an understanding of the
unnecessary salt that is added to our diets by corporations. It helps them recognize the
importance of attending to the very minimum need of sodium, and reduce the excess of this
horrid ingredient. I graded my food rule as STRONG. Both DGA and Pollan make strong
arguments against the excess of salt-intake in our diets.