By Kathleen Waterfall
Health gurus will soon have a new food guide to rave about.
The U. S. government announced that it is moving forward with its plan to renovate the Food Guide Pyramid in order to help pear-shaped Americans eat less and exercise more.
“We”ve got to do something to get a behavioral change,” said Eric Hentges, director of U. S. Agriculture Department”s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, in a recent Reuters article found on CNN.com.
For the first time, the USDA will recognize in the new food guide that most Americans do not exercise on a regular basis.
“Given the sedentary lifestyles of many Americans, it was considered better not to assume any specific level of activity,” the USDA reported.
New educational materials about the new food guide may be targeted to consumers with sedentary lifestyles, Hentges said.
Lora Beth Brown, associate professor of BYU”s Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, said possible behavior changes include community efforts in the emphasis of physical education in public schools and the availability of safe activities.
Under the new guide, cups and ounces will replace the vague “servings” described in the current pyramid, according to the USDA.
“I don”t think people understand what a serving is,” said Holly Campbell, a dietetics graduate from Gunnison, Utah. “Portions today have become so distorted.”
To further accommodate the needs of consumers, food portions regarding servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and milk will be based on 12 calorie levels ranging from 1,000 to 3,200 calories each day. The current pyramid bases food portions on three levels ranging from 1,600 to 2,800 calories.
“If people could actually know what a serving was and could translate that, they would realize the portions are actually very small,” Brown said.
Despite the proposed necessary changes, the current food guide is still considered a positive tool in making healthy food decisions.
“I”m a huge fan of the pyramid,” Campbell said. “I think it”s a great way to give someone a general understanding of a healthy diet. The shape of the pyramid is great because it reminds you that the bottom is your strong point and you build up with fats at the top.”
More specifically, the food pyramid provides a helpful diabetes education. It teaches which foods have carbohydrates, which affect blood-sugar levels, Campbell said.
In addition, Brown recognized the food guide”s flexibility to various eating patterns.
“Whether you”re Greek, Mexican or in downtown Chicago, you can put all of the foods you eat into the pyramid”s categories,” Brown said.
The government expects to revise both the food pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines by 2005. They have solicited help from various dietitians, nutritionists and industry representatives to assist in building the new pyramid.
Depending on how interested parties respond to the proposal, the new food pyramid could use a different shape when the changes are published. However, no new shapes have been proposed, Hentges said.
