USDA to Unveil New Food Pyramid

[Mach 1 Club]

   

The US federal government is scrapping the nearly 20-year-old food pyramid and replacing it with a new icon designed to more easily depict a healthy diet, Dow Jones Newswires reported Friday.

The US Department Of Agriculture will hold a press conference next Thursday to unveil the new food icon.

The food pyramid first was unveiled in 1992, according to the USDA's website. It showed various food groups and indicated how much of each belonged in a healthy diet. The icon has been updated and more recently has been referred to as "MyPyramid."

The pyramid has long been criticized for not easily conveying dietary-guideline information on which types of food and how much food should be consumed.

US dietary guidelines were updated in January. The new guidelines urge people to consume more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and fish and to reduce sodium intake. The guidelines also encourage people to eat less and exercise more.

Last year, the White House's child obesity task force called for a food icon that provides simple advice to consumers to help them make healthy food choices.

[Steven Harris]

A healthy diet is so very important.

Contrary to popular opinion though, it does not take a village to raise a child - it takes good parents. Good parents do not need the government in the home but the government sure could use some good parents.

[Rare Pony]

Metamucil helps in the diet too