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New Food Pyramid: USDA, Guidelines, Health And Nutrition
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Published: June 20, 2007
In a society dominated by French fries, super sizes and ever increasing portions, the effort to eat healthily can be very difficult. However, the government approved food pyramid gives people the information necessary to lead a healthy life with good nutrition.
Nutrition is an important factor of life for every living human being and food pyramid guidelines further indicate its importance. The food pyramid is a guide to nutrition that the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) developed to guide people in their decisions about what to eat in order to maximize good health and nutrition.
The original food pyramid indicates that the foods at the base of the pyramid – the largest zone on the pyramid – should be the most consumed category of food. This group is made up of bread, rice, cereal and pasta. According to the old model, people should eat six to eleven servings from this group.
As diet habits and nutritional research have changed and progressed, so has the need for a food pyramid that applies more closely to health and nutrition needs of people in a more modern society. For this reason the USDA devised a new food pyramid. The USDA's current food pyramid is called MyPyramid because it caters to individual nutrition needs. It provides more leniency to people with special nutritional needs such as those suffering from diabetes or gluten intolerance.
The goal of the new food pyramid is to promote nutrition guidelines that encourage people to eat more balanced amounts of food from each food group. Furthermore, the USDA increased the number of food groups. The new version includes grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and beans, oils and discretionary calories.
The food pyramid that is currently proposed by the USDA provides more specific guidelines than the original version. For example, they specify that grains should be whole grains. Furthermore, they indicate that more dark green and orange vegetables should be eaten. The discretionary calories include sweet foods, fatty foods, liquid calories, or just eating more foods from a certain food group based on individual needs.
The new food pyramid also includes a seventh category: physical activity. In order to lead a healthy lifestyle the USDA's new food pyramid recommends that people not only eat healthy food but also engage in regular physical activity. The MyPyramid website offers several tips for integrating more physical activity into daily activity. For example, they recommend that people get off the bus or subway one stop early and walk the rest of the way to their destination.
While many restaurants have undergone accusations that their high fat and oversized menus are to blame for the increase in obesity in the United States, healthier options do exist. Several restaurant chains are taking the new food pyramid into serious consideration. For example, Subway has recently been promoting healthier sides and physical activity with their Fresh Fit menu and challenge.
Research in nutrition and health is always being conducted and new discoveries are being made. Consequentially, ideas as to how people can eat to optimize their health are always being tweaked. The food pyramid is a simple and easy set of guidelines that, if properly followed, ensure a long, healthy and nutritious life.
Sources:
Steps to a Healthier You. MyPyramid.gov. United States Department of Agriculture. 14 June 2007. http://www.mypyramid.gov.
The Old and New Food Pyramid. Disabled-World.com. 14 June 2007. http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/food_ pyramid.shtml.
Subway Fresh Fit. Subwayfreshbuzz.com. 2007. Doctor's Associates Inc. 14 June 2007. http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/freshfit/meals.aspx .
Nutrition is an important factor of life for every living human being and food pyramid guidelines further indicate its importance. The food pyramid is a guide to nutrition that the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) developed to guide people in their decisions about what to eat in order to maximize good health and nutrition.
The original food pyramid indicates that the foods at the base of the pyramid – the largest zone on the pyramid – should be the most consumed category of food. This group is made up of bread, rice, cereal and pasta. According to the old model, people should eat six to eleven servings from this group.
As diet habits and nutritional research have changed and progressed, so has the need for a food pyramid that applies more closely to health and nutrition needs of people in a more modern society. For this reason the USDA devised a new food pyramid. The USDA's current food pyramid is called MyPyramid because it caters to individual nutrition needs. It provides more leniency to people with special nutritional needs such as those suffering from diabetes or gluten intolerance.
The goal of the new food pyramid is to promote nutrition guidelines that encourage people to eat more balanced amounts of food from each food group. Furthermore, the USDA increased the number of food groups. The new version includes grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and beans, oils and discretionary calories.
The food pyramid that is currently proposed by the USDA provides more specific guidelines than the original version. For example, they specify that grains should be whole grains. Furthermore, they indicate that more dark green and orange vegetables should be eaten. The discretionary calories include sweet foods, fatty foods, liquid calories, or just eating more foods from a certain food group based on individual needs.
The new food pyramid also includes a seventh category: physical activity. In order to lead a healthy lifestyle the USDA's new food pyramid recommends that people not only eat healthy food but also engage in regular physical activity. The MyPyramid website offers several tips for integrating more physical activity into daily activity. For example, they recommend that people get off the bus or subway one stop early and walk the rest of the way to their destination.
While many restaurants have undergone accusations that their high fat and oversized menus are to blame for the increase in obesity in the United States, healthier options do exist. Several restaurant chains are taking the new food pyramid into serious consideration. For example, Subway has recently been promoting healthier sides and physical activity with their Fresh Fit menu and challenge.
Research in nutrition and health is always being conducted and new discoveries are being made. Consequentially, ideas as to how people can eat to optimize their health are always being tweaked. The food pyramid is a simple and easy set of guidelines that, if properly followed, ensure a long, healthy and nutritious life.
Sources:
Steps to a Healthier You. MyPyramid.gov. United States Department of Agriculture. 14 June 2007. http://www.mypyramid.gov.
The Old and New Food Pyramid. Disabled-World.com. 14 June 2007. http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/food_ pyramid.shtml.
Subway Fresh Fit. Subwayfreshbuzz.com. 2007. Doctor's Associates Inc. 14 June 2007. http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/freshfit/meals.aspx .
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