2008 Woodie Awards
Revamped food guide pyramid offers more personalization
Sam Rifkin
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
New information allows us to improve various aspects of our lives, from travel to communication. And health is no exception.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is constantly updating food guidelines to help Americans achieve a well-balanced diet. The first food models were introduced in the United States in the early 20th century. In fact, the food guide model did not get its pyramidal shape until 1992. The now familiar triangle was updated in April 2005, and given the name "MyPyramid." MyPyramid shares the same purpose as its predecessors -- helping Americans stay healthy.
How is MyPyramid different from the old food pyramid? First of all, MyPyramid is the first food guide to be individualized. In prior years, U.S. food guides were rough estimates designed to meet the needs of a broad range of Americans. Today, health professionals recognize weight, gender, age and activity level vary from person to person. The MyPyramid readjusts itself accordingly, transforming into a food guide specific to your needs.
Another new component is the addition of a person running up stairs on the side of MyPyramid. The figure is a reminder that physical activity is a crucial component of good health and that exercise should be a part of your everyday life.
The design of MyPyramid has changed as well. There are six colored stripes running from its base to its point.
Each stripe represents a different food group -- orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, yellow for oils, blue for dairy and purple for meat and beans. The stripes are arranged vertically to represent moderation in each group. The tapering width of each stripe indicates you should consume less of certain types of foods than others. For example, whole grains would be found at the bottom of the orange stripe, whereas muffins would be nearer to the top.
If you have a sweet tooth, you might have noticed there isn't a stripe for sweets. Nor is there one for fats (such as butter) or alcohol.
Fear not -- sugars, high-fat foods and alcohol still have their place on your plate. They have been added to a group called discretionary calories. Discretionary calories are essentially foods we don't need to eat, but enjoy anyway. As long as you fuel your body with the foods from the main food groups, there's room for fun.
If you'd like to know more about the MyPyramid, or would like to see what your specific nutritional needs are, you can visit the USDA's website at http://www.mypyramid.gov/.
Samantha Rifkin is a senior Nutrition and Health Science major. She can be reached at dailynebraskan.com.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is constantly updating food guidelines to help Americans achieve a well-balanced diet. The first food models were introduced in the United States in the early 20th century. In fact, the food guide model did not get its pyramidal shape until 1992. The now familiar triangle was updated in April 2005, and given the name "MyPyramid." MyPyramid shares the same purpose as its predecessors -- helping Americans stay healthy.
How is MyPyramid different from the old food pyramid? First of all, MyPyramid is the first food guide to be individualized. In prior years, U.S. food guides were rough estimates designed to meet the needs of a broad range of Americans. Today, health professionals recognize weight, gender, age and activity level vary from person to person. The MyPyramid readjusts itself accordingly, transforming into a food guide specific to your needs.
Another new component is the addition of a person running up stairs on the side of MyPyramid. The figure is a reminder that physical activity is a crucial component of good health and that exercise should be a part of your everyday life.
The design of MyPyramid has changed as well. There are six colored stripes running from its base to its point.
Each stripe represents a different food group -- orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, yellow for oils, blue for dairy and purple for meat and beans. The stripes are arranged vertically to represent moderation in each group. The tapering width of each stripe indicates you should consume less of certain types of foods than others. For example, whole grains would be found at the bottom of the orange stripe, whereas muffins would be nearer to the top.
If you have a sweet tooth, you might have noticed there isn't a stripe for sweets. Nor is there one for fats (such as butter) or alcohol.
Fear not -- sugars, high-fat foods and alcohol still have their place on your plate. They have been added to a group called discretionary calories. Discretionary calories are essentially foods we don't need to eat, but enjoy anyway. As long as you fuel your body with the foods from the main food groups, there's room for fun.
If you'd like to know more about the MyPyramid, or would like to see what your specific nutritional needs are, you can visit the USDA's website at http://www.mypyramid.gov/.
Samantha Rifkin is a senior Nutrition and Health Science major. She can be reached at dailynebraskan.com.
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