You want me to exercise how much?(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Mary C. Curtis

I'm sure the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture meant well when they issued new U.S. dietary and exercise guidelines. How were they to know the goals they set would be enough to send even fit Americans into a funk?

The updated guidelines, at 71 pages, offer 41 recommendations on what to eat and how often to exercise. They spell out the consequences for those who don't quite reach a bar set amazingly high.

What we should be eating can be summarized in one word _ roughage. It sounds much better the way the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group, describes moving Americans "towards a more plant-based direction" of whole grains, beans and vegetables.

Like I said _ roughage.

I suppose it's possible to make traditional treats more nourishing _ pizza with a broccoli and white bean topping.

The report urges Americans to eat less highly processed foods with unhealthy fat, added sugar and too much salt.