Take New Steps to a Healthier You with ... MyPyramid
Just what is a healthy diet? According to the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(HHS), a healthy diet for people two years old and above is one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products as well as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. The average American diet, which consists of fats, added sugars and refined carbohydrates, does not balance according to the new guidelines. That’s not surprising. But how much of each food group does an individual need for his or her diet to be “healthy?”
Replacing the Food Guide Pyramid that was introduced in 1992, the new MyPyramid symbol represents the recommended proportion of foods from each food group and focuses on the importance of making smart food choices in every food group, every day. It also includes physical activity, which was not part of the old food pyramid.
The theory behind MyPyramid is that ‘one size does not fit all,’ and every American’s nutritional needs are different. The MyPyramid logo illustrates this concept.
On the MyPyramid web site, www.MyPyramid.gov, a person can find a personalized recommendation of the kinds and amounts of food to eat each day based on their age, gender and physical activity level.
A person can also analyze their daily physical activity to see how many calories they use and check their energy balance by comparing the number of calories eaten with the number of calories burned through physical activity. Individual progress can be tracked for up to one year using the MyPyramid Tracker.
According to Sandra Brenner, RD, PhD, CDE, dietitian at Perry Hospital, the new MyPyramid has the potential to improve America’s eating habits. “MyPyramid is more detailed and more individualized than the old food pyramid, and it also emphasizes daily activity and exercise,” comments Brenner. “Following the new pyramid guarantees a person will eat a balanced diet. You could follow the old pyramid and still not eat a balanced diet. The new MyPyramid has done a good job of specifying what is good and what is not.”