The new food pyramid, unveiled one week ago today, is one part
nutritional information, one part colorful contemporary art. Well,
that may be a bit of a stretch, but so is the idea that the plan is
truly personalized, if you ask me.
The new food pyramid, unveiled one week ago today, is one part nutritional information, one part colorful contemporary art. Well, that may be a bit of a stretch, but so is the idea that the plan is truly personalized, if you ask me.
Sure, you can access up to 12 different variations of the meal plan depending on your age, sex and level of activity, but these questions don’t take into account medical conditions, body type or a host of other vital information. And unless you’re carrying around the list of items you’re eligible to eat in a given day, the little color-coded slivers, like orange for grains and purple for meats, don’t exactly give consumers a clear picture of what they should be picking up in the store.
However, the new food pyramid is perhaps one of the most complete dietary guides ever released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to experts like Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, whose comments were published in Dow Jones’ Market Watch.
The nutritional science behind the revised guidelines is more thorough than ever, even if it’s not entirely clear, and in a world filled with a plethora of diet options – from low-carb and raw foods to the grapefruit diet and two-week juice fasts – it offers a beacon of reason. Still, Wootan isn’t satisfied with the new status quo.
“With rising obesity rates as one of the biggest health problems facing the country, USDA should’ve given clear advice about how to cut calories and which foods to eat less of,” Wootan told Market Watch. “They missed that chance with this new pyramid.”
True, but the USDA can’t be responsible for every choice we make. When readers look up their own pyramid plan at www.MyPyramid.gov, they should take a moment to scroll down the page and view the section titled “Oils and Discretionary Calories.”
There they’ll find guidelines for the number of calories it’s safe to devote to excess fats and sugars. This includes sodas, the number one source of calories for Americans, according to Wootan.
Following guidelines could mean drastic reductions in this type of sugar intake. For me, the limit is equivalent to about one Reese’s peanut butter cup a day.
There are also other cues to healthier living incorporated into the pyramid. A stick figure on the side of the pyramid seeks to remind us of the importance exercise plays in the quest to be eating right (60 or more minutes a day are recommended) And the reminder to Americans to consume whole grains cannot be overstated.
Just to be sure that you really are staying on top of your quest for the perfect diet, there’s also a system called “My Pyramid Tracker” that allows users to track their meals for a week to ensure their menu options fall under the purview of the diet.
Take it, leave it, or color code your fridge. Now the task of healthy eating is up to you.
