The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released in January 2005, changed fruit and vegetable recommendations for all Americans. Previous dietary guidelines recommended a range of 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The new guidelines recommend 2 to 6 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables a day or the equivalent of 4 to 13 servings. Through consumer research, the National Fruit & Vegetable Program recognizes that cups is a more understandable and more motivating tool for helping consumers visualize the amount of fruits and vegetables they should eat.