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On April 19, 2005, the USDA
announced their new and improved food pyramid, that replaces
the old (1992) Food Pyramid. MyPyramid uses the
recommendations found in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, released in January 2005 to produce this radical
dietary plan guide. One important change is that we should
eat 3 ounces of whole-grain foods every day. Government
surveys find that fewer than 10% of Americans consume the
recommended amount of whole grains.
Medical research links diets rich in whole
grains to reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer
and help with weight management.
The new food pyramid is a result of recent
nutrition and dietary findings and a realization that the
previous food pyramid has not been very effective. As an
example the new food pyramid takes into consideration
factors such as physical activity which were previously
overlooked. The effectiveness of MyPyramid's is due in
large part to the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans
from which it takes its lead.
The MyPyramid dietary system
uses interactive computer technology to help us understand
what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet. Their web site
offers personalized recommendations of food proportions,
daily trackers of physical activity and diet, and a variety
of tips and resources – all to fit an individual's health
needs.
Along with the Web site is a
new MyPyramid symbol which consists of a pyramid with six
vertical colored bars and a man climbing the steps to the
top.
To understand MyPyramid,
consumers would have to read the supplementary text which
explains the proportions and which food group each colored
bar represents. The bars are too vague to be understood by
the common American consumer, Bowerman explained.
According to MyPyramid.gov,
the symbol was only meant to direct consumers to the Web
site where exact proportions of each food group would be
given according to the individual's age, gender and level of
physical activity.
However, Bowerman claims that
these three items together are not enough information to
formulate an appropriate food pyramid for an individual.
"What does 30 to 60 minutes
of physical activity mean? Is it intense or is it walking?"
Bowerman asked.
On the other hand, Go said
that it would be impossible to make an entirely personalized
food pyramid and that MyPyramid was already an improvement
from the original food pyramid. He added it was "a one size
fit all" model that did not take into consideration age or
gender.
"MyPyramid is the consequence
of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines which the (Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee) released after two years of academia
research," Go said in an attempt to dispel rumors that
MyPyramid was a result of lobbying corporations and
restaurant unions.
The process of structuring
and the design of MyPyramid wholly follows the
recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory
Committee, which Go said consisted of 13 academics unrelated
to the food industries.
The committee met several
times over two years to ask questions and make conclusions
concerning issues of nutrient adequacy, physical activity
and the effect of alcoholic beverages for the American
consumer.
These guidelines are not only
incorporated into MyPyramid for food guidance, but also into
the meal plans for all federal feeding programs, such as
elementary school lunch programs, Go said.
"There is less 'don't eat
this or that' or 'this is bad for you' (in the guidelines) –
but more of 'eat more of whole grains' and 'exercise more,'"
Go said.
Bowerman views this tone as a
result of corporations, restaurants and farmers successfully
pushing the blame of American obesity onto the individual.
"Instead of coming down on certain restaurants for producing
bad foods – MyPyramid is saying that the individual can
prevent obesity," she said. |
