This post was written by Hatchet reporter Emily Cirillo.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced the newest set dietary guidelines for Americans Monday morning.

The guidelines include 23 key recommendations for all Americans to live a healthier daily lifestyle, such as eating less, making half your plate fruits and vegetables and drinking water instead of sugary drinks.

“The 2010 Dietary Guidelines are being released at a time when the majority of adults and one in three children is overweight or obese, and this is a crisis that we can no longer ignore,” Vilsack said.

Six additional recommendations were made for specific subsets of the population, like pregnant women.

“I am proud that our school is part of today’s announcement,” Lynn Goldman, dean of the School of Public Heath and Human Services, said. “GW shares the commitment to promote health, wellness, and nutrition.”

A new food pyramid and nutrition-related educational programs will be released by the US Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services in the coming months.