According to HEI-15 guidelines, which dietary change would best improve the diet quality of older adults?

• A. Increase whole grains, vegetables, legumes and dairy and lower foods rich in sodium, saturated fat and added sugars
• B. Increase red meat and processed foods
• C. Eliminate all grains
• D. Replace dairy with sugar-sweetened beverages

Answer: (A)

Healthy Eating Index 2015 evaluates how closely a diet follows the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing both adequacy and moderation. It scores higher when there is more intake of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and dairy, and lower intake of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. For older adults, this pattern supports nutrient-dense choices that matter with aging—fiber from vegetables and whole grains, calcium and vitamin D from dairy for bone health, and plant-based protein from legumes—without excess calories. Because of this, the dietary change that best improves diet quality is to increase whole grains, vegetables, legumes and dairy while reducing foods high in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. Increasing red meat and processed foods would worsen the score by raising saturated fat and sodium; eliminating all grains would open the door to fiber and nutrient gaps; replacing dairy with sugar-sweetened beverages would greatly raise added sugars and reduce calcium and vitamin D intake.