July 26, 2004
Hello, The Food Guide Pyramid has been around for over a decade. It has covered the walls in classrooms and doctors offices. It has found prominence in health textbooks and community nutrition programs. "Most Americans
are familiar with the federal Food Guide Pyramid - but a lot of
people don't understand how to use it. Too many are confused by
the recommendations and can't figure out how to implement them.
The proof, Agriculture Department officials say, is that two out
of three Americans are fat. So, as officials develop new guidelines
on healthy eating, they also are looking for new ways to get out
the message. Replacing the familiar food pyramid, first published
in 1992, may be among them.... Typical of the pyramid's shortcomings
is that some people thought the graphic's recommendation of 6
to 11 daily servings from the grains group, such as bread, meant
they could have anywhere from six to 11 servings. A slice of bread
is a serving. Only after the
eater checks the pyramid's supplemental literature does it become
clear that six servings are sufficient for people who don't burn
a lot of calories in a day... Eleven servings are for those with
high-revved metabolisms, such as teenage boys. The government
wants a graphic that will encourage people to get the information
they need to eat better and act on it..." While it has been difficult for many to put into practice, the creators of the Food Guide Pyramid had hoped that it would provide an outline to help Americans balance the foods they were already eating in a healthy way. "The Food Guide
Pyramid can help you put the Dietary Guidelines into action. The
pyramid illustrates the research-based food guidance developed
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and supported by the Department
of Health and Human Services. It is based on USDA's research on
what foods Americans eat, what nutrients are in these foods, and
how to make the best food choices to promote good health. It outlines
what to eat each day, but it is not a rigid prescription. You
can use it as a general guide in choosing a healthful diet that
is right for you. The pyramid calls for eating a variety of foods
to get the nutrients you need, and, at the same time, the right
amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight." The traditional Food
Pyramid (to which the FDA refers in the above quote) can be viewed
at: While those who created the original Pyramid now doubt its effectiveness due to lack of understanding and implementation, others find fault with it at a much deeper level. "Unfortunately,
the information embodied in this pyramid doesn't point the way
to healthy eating. Why not? Its blueprint was based on shaky scientific
evidence, and it hasn't appreciably changed over the years to
reflect major advances in our understanding of the connection
between diet and health.... As an alternative to the USDA's flawed
pyramid, faculty members in the Harvard School of Public Health
built the Healthy Eating Pyramid. It resembles the
USDA's in shape only. The Healthy Eating Pyramid takes into consideration,
and puts into perspective, the wealth of research conducted during
the last ten years that has reshaped the definition of healthy
eating." (Further discussion of the Food Guide Pyramid and Healthy Eating Pyramid can be found at the above site. By scrolling down, you can also find images of both pyramids on this page.) Another problem for some
is: "It is based on USDA's research on what foods Americans
eat..." Since it is not based on the foods that all Americans eat, other groups have created their own pyramids... "To offer a healthful
alternative to the 1992 U.S. Food Guide Pyramid, which lumps some
animal and plant foods together in a single group, Cornell and
Harvard University researchers have teamed up with other experts
to assist the non-profit foundation, Oldways Preservation &
Exchange Trust, unveil an official Asian Diet Pyramid. It reflects
the traditional, plant-based rural diets of Asia, which research
increasingly shows to be linked to much lower
rates of certain cancers, heart disease, obesity and, in some
cases, osteoporosis and other chronic, degenerative diseases than
those found in the United States." (The above link will bring you to the Cornell University web site, where you can view the Asian Diet Pyramid.) Other Pyramids include: The Latin American Diet
Pyramid The Mediterranean Diet
Pyramid For those who have chosen a vegetarian lifestyle: "The Vegetarian
Food Guide Pyramid is a general guide to healthy eating and a
balanced diet for vegetarians (ovo-lacto vegetarians and ovo vegetarians)
and vegans. For optimum vegetarian nutrition and calorie-intake,
the Vegetarian Pyramid advises eating foods from a variety of
food groups each day. These dietary guidelines also help you to
maintain or improve your fat levels and body weight." To view the vegetarian
food guide pyramid, you can visit: One low-carb diet also has its own Pyramid: "The Atkins Lifestyle
Food Guide Pyramid is designed to address the epidemic of obesity
by providing an easy-to-follow nutritional strategy for achieving
and/or maintaining a healthy weight. Atkins also informed the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) that medical experts with Atkins Health &
Medical Information Services (AHMIS) intend to file comments with
the government's Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee, based on the Atkins Nutritional Approach and
its dietary philosophy." (The above link will bring you to the Atkins web site, where you can view the Atkins Lifestyle Food Guide Pyramid.) There is also a pyramid for those focussing on weight management: "The Mayo Clinic
Healthy Weight Pyramid is a tool to help you lose weight or maintain
your weight. It focuses on nutritious foods that contain a small
number of calories in a large amount of food ˜ such as fruits,
vegetables, legumes, poultry, fish or whole grains. Fruits and
vegetables, allowed in unlimited amounts, form the foundation
of the pyramid. This pyramid also recommends healthy food choices
within each food group. Candy and
other processed sweets are acceptable, but in moderation ˜up to
75 calories daily." (The above link will
bring you to the Mayo Clinic web site, where you can view the
Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid. Click on the image for an
enlarged version and access to the above text.) Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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