Current Dietary Guidelines

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 Continuing Professional Education Self-Study Modules

CPE Opportunities

You can now obtain continuing professional education (CPE) credits for reading the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. Credits are provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing body for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered.

The self-study modules will equip professionals with knowledge of the scientific underpinnings that makes the Dietary Guidelines relevant across all life stages. Each chapter is offered as a separate self-study activity and listed in the table below. It is recommended that you start with the module “Introduction and Chapter 1: Nutrition and Health Across the Lifespan: The Guidelines and Key Recommendations.” These first two chapters highlight the overarching Guidelines and Key Recommendations that are foundational to the guidance on healthy eating across the lifespan provided in subsequent chapters.

Instructions for Participants

To receive your certificate of completion for this CPE self-study activity, you must complete the following:

  • Read the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 chapter(s)
  • Email DietaryGuidelines@usda.gov using the subject line “Dietary Guidelines Self-Study CPE Activity” and provide us with the following information:
    • Title of Module(s) completed
      • Introduction and Chapter 1: Nutrition and Health Across the Lifespan: The Guidelines and Key Recommendations
      • Chapter 2: Infants and Toddlers
      • Chapter 3: Children and Adolescents
      • Chapter 4: Adults
      • Chapter 5: Women Who Are Pregnant or Lactating
      • Chapter 6: Older Adults
    • Your full name
    • CDR registration number 
  • You will receive a link to do the required post-assessment. Upon completion, you will be directed to download your CPE certificate.
  • The CPE activities on this page will expire on April 22, 2027.

*Note: If you took modules 1, 2, 3 and/or 5 before May 31st and would like a certificate with updated CPE credits, please email us with your CPE certificate and we can provide you with an updated version that reflects the current CPE credits.

Suggested Performance Indicators: 4.1.2, 6.2.3, 8.1.1, 8.1.5, 9.4.2

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 Self-Study Modules

    • Description: The Introduction and Chapter 1 self-study module provides foundational information about how the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 was developed, discusses the health benefits of consuming a healthy dietary pattern and explains the four Guidelines and supporting Key Recommendations.

      Learning Objectives: 

      • Describe the multi-step process that was used to develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.
      • List key guidelines to help inform decisions about nutrient-dense food and beverage choices to achieve a healthy dietary pattern across the lifespan.
      • Identify ways the Dietary Guidelines framework can accommodate personal preferences, budget, and cultural considerations to meet food group needs.
      • Highlight areas to impact health by understanding current nutritional gaps in the American diet.

      CPE Credits Offered: 2.75

    • Description: The Chapter 2 self-study module focuses on nutrition issues important from birth until a child’s second birthday, such as human milk feeding, introduction of nutrient-dense complementary foods and encouraging infants and young children to build a healthy eating pattern during the second year of life.

      Learning Objectives: 

      • Understand the key recommendations for feeding infants and young children.
      • Apply the Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern for Toddlers Ages 12 through 23 months in feeding guidance development.
      • Evaluate how average dietary intakes of young children compare to recommended intake ranges during the second year of life.
      • List at least 3 ways that caregivers and federal resources can support healthy eating, growth and development during infancy and toddlerhood.

      CPE Credits Offered: 1.25

    • Description: The Chapter 3 self-study module focuses on nutrition considerations for individuals ages 2 through 18, a crucial life stage for establishing dietary patterns that may continue into adult years. Topics highlighted include diet quality during childhood and adolescence and the importance of meeting calorie and nutrient needs to support growth and development.

      Learning Objectives: 

      • Understand adaptations in dietary patterns throughout childhood and adolescence. 
      • Assess how current intakes for children and adolescents compare to food group recommendations. 
      • Describe the areas of dietary improvement that are important for all children and adolescents.
      • Select at least three strategies that can be used to support healthy eating in children and adolescents. 

      CPE Credits Offered: 1.25

    • Description: The Chapter 4 self-study module provides dietary advice and recommendations for adults ages 19 through 59. Topics highlighted include current dietary intakes during this life stage and special considerations to support a healthy dietary pattern to promote health, achieve a healthy weight status, and reduce the risk of chronic disease that become more apparent in this life stage. 

      Learning Objectives: 

      • Compare average food group intakes in adults against recommended intake ranges.
      • Assess the special considerations to support a healthy dietary pattern for adults that reflect adults’ current intake patterns and the prevalence of diet-related chronic disease.
      • Identify strategies and resources across the multiple environments to support adults in making healthy food and beverage choices.

      CPE Credits Offered: 1.0

    • Description: The Chapter 5 self-study module details the vital role that nutrition plays before, during, and after pregnancy and lactation. Topics highlighted include current dietary intakes for individuals who are pregnant or lactating and how following a healthy dietary pattern during these life stages has the potential to affect health outcomes for both the individual and child in subsequent life stages. 

      Learning Objectives: 

      • Compare average food group intakes in people who are pregnant or lactating against recommended intake ranges. 
      • Understand how a healthy dietary pattern can contribute to meeting special nutrient and dietary considerations during pregnancy and lactation.  
      • Assess barriers and opportunities when seeking to support parents, caregivers and families in achieving healthy lifestyle changes during pregnancy and lactation. 

      CPE Credits Offered: 1.25

    • Description: The Chapter 6 self-study module highlights current dietary intakes and important nutrition considerations to support healthy aging for individuals ages 60 and older, a life stage that is influenced by a number of health and social changes that may affect this population’s nutritional status.  

      Learning Objectives:

      • Understand how current intakes and nutrient needs in older adults differ from younger adults. 
      • Assess the special nutrition considerations for older adults to improve dietary intake. 
      • Identify ways to support older adults in achieving a healthy dietary pattern that accounts for factors such as cost, preferences, traditions, and access.

      CPE Credits Offered: 1.0