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FOOD PYRAMID REVAMP

The food pyramid is the government’s symbol of healthy eating.
Now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the food pyramid is not pulling its weight, as Americans get fatter and fatter and ignore the government’s recommendations.
The Department of Agriculture is looking to introduce a new food pyramid, changing not only what it recommends, but also, how it gets the message through to the consumer.

When you ask the average American citizen what he or she thinks of the food pyramid, most Americans either don’t know, don’t care, or don’t pay attention to the recommendations created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It’s part of the reason why America is at its fattest point ever.
So now the Department of Agriculture is actually asking the public for input online, so that it can create a new consumer presentation program. That is, it’s designing a new food pyramid that that will replace the existing one.
The food guide pyramid was created back in 1992 with the intent of visually showing Americans how a healthy diet should be constructed. At the base, which is the foundation of the diet, are complex carbohydrates which, in this Atkins day and age, have fallen into disfavor.
Jodi Buckman, a nutritionist with Mt. Sinai Hospital, says, “I think that the food guide pyramid can be used as an educational tool. However I think that the public is also very confused by the food pyramid, and don’t know how to make it usable in their daily lives.”
For example, foods at the top of the food pyramid are the least important, a depiction that’s confusing to many people. And that’s just one problem with the existing food pyramid that necessitates the introduction of a new food pyramid.
“I think some of the biggest misconceptions on the food guide pyramid have to do with serving sizes. People don’t understand what a serving size is. I think that a good way of explaining serving sizes is to be specific, and use measures like cups or ounces. Some other points, like the explanation about the different kinds of milk, also need to be clearer,” says Buckman.
One other important issue, it’s a graphic not designed to stand alone. “There is a 32 page booklet that goes along with the food guide pyramid that people are unaware of,” says Buckman.
The problem of one size not fitting all is now being taken into account while designing the new food pyramid. The Department of Agriculture is planning on providing interactive CDs and internet sites where people can go to design their own personalized healthy food plan.
The message of the new food pyramid campaign will hopefully promote an increased intake in fiber, vitamins and minerals and other nutrients that are low in typical American diets.
The new food pyramid campaign is intended to teach Americans to lower the intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. Buckman agrees what needs to be revamped in the food pyramid is the design and message delivery, rather than changing the content of the message the food pyramid is trying to send.
“I think the food pyramid can be used, but it needs to have some sort of direction,” says Buckman.

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