Seeing as though many Americans rarely heeded the recommendations
of the 1992 food pyramid, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
thought it was time for a change. Thus, after much anticipation
and with no further adieu, the USDA finally revealed its new food
pyramid.
Like its forerunner, the revised pyramid and its Web site, www.mypyramid.gov,
are based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. However,
unlike the previous pyramid -- which was criticized for being too
broad and too vague in its recommendations -- the new pyramid is
a series of vertical colored stripes of varying widths. The wider
base of each stripe represents wholesome, healthier foods with little
or no solid fats, added sugar or caloric sweeteners, while the narrow
top is the higher-calorie foods.
And it's divided into six colored stripes
that represent the different food categories:
- Orange = Grains
- Green = Vegetables
- Red = Fruits
- Yellow = Oils
- Blue = Dairy products
- Purple = Meats, beans, fish and nuts
In addition, the left side of the graphic is flanked by a person
walking up stairs, symbolizing exercise. The revised pyramid also
comes in 12 versions, depending on a person's activity level and
caloric needs -- enter MyPyramid.
The MyPyramid Web site was designed to help consumers personalize
the guidelines of the pyramid. After providing their age, gender
and level of daily exercise, consumers will receive guidelines on
how many calories they should consume and how much they should eat
from each food category.
But Will the New Pyramid Pay Off?
The confusing design of the graphic certainly dodges the question
about which foods are best for consumers to eat and, according to
a spokesperson for the Center for Science in the Public Interest,
doesn't do anything to warn people about the dangers of eating sugary,
processed foods and drinks either.
Also, a nutritionist from Penn State University said a graphic
that contains no specific information is certainly not very helpful;
a critic from the Harvard School of Public Health (and a member
of the dietary guidelines advisory committee), voiced his skepticism
that the graphic will produce many healthy people except for perhaps
some highly motivated ones.
Chicago Sun-Times April 20, 2005
USA
Today April 20, 2005
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