USDA Secretary Mike Johanns states. "Pay attention to what you eat, eat in moderation, and then exercise. Even a small amount of exercise will make a difference. Every single American can find a MyPyramid that is right for them."
“It is not a diet plan; it is a plan for healthy eating. If you are not monitoring, you are likely not going to be able to make progress-losing weight. The issue here is getting started.”, stated Eric Hentges, executive director of the Center for Nutrition Policy Programs at the USDA and one of the chief architects of the new pyramid. Consumers can use the Web site to track their daily food intake as a starting point for gradually losing weight. MyPryamid emphasis individualized diet advice, an improvement over the 1992 Food Guide Pyramid, which issued one set of recommendations averaged out for all persons.
In addition to familiar illustrations of recommended food groups, the new pyramid includes a representation of a person climbing steps to its top. A symbol meant to emphasize physical activity. With new emphasis on exercise and moderate eating will finally help make a dent in the obesity epidemic, now affecting more than one third of adults and nearly one fifth of teens.
The new strategy relies heavily on an Internet site designed to help individuals plan their dietary intake based on their age, sex, and level of daily physical activity. MyPyramid suggests a 55-year-old woman who exercises fewer than 30 minutes daily to consume 1,600 calories per day in a diet consisting of 5.0 ounces of grains, 3.5 ounces of fruits and vegetables, 3 cups of milk and dairy products, and 5.0 ounces of meat and beans. For a man the same age and exercise level, the site calls for a diet limited to 2,000 calories per day. Caloric limits are set for weight maintenance and not necessarily weight loss.
"It is important that the emphasis remains on positive dietary choices, to ensure good nutrition and adequate hydration," Cal Dooley, president and chief executive officer of the Food Products Association.
Before making any changes to your diet or exercise program please consult with you doctors first.
Federal officials unveiled new dietary recommendations April 19, 2005.The new pyramid is based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) dietary recommendations released in January. With emphasis on the consumption of grains, fruits, and vegetables with limited amounts of meats, oils, and fat.
The main thrust of the retooled pyramid was "first and foremost, moderation."
