New Food Pyramid : Re-examining the new food guide pyramid

A year ago this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled MyPyramid, its replacement for the outdated food pyramid. But although it redecorated and renamed the old pyramid, the USDA didn't carry out the necessary changes needed to offer clear information on strategies for healthful eating, reports the April issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.

MyPyramid fails to convey key messages from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the document that the food pyramid is supposed to represent, and it makes some recommendations that aren’t the best nutrition advice, says the Harvard Heart Letter. For example, the guidelines recommend cutting back on animal fats, avoiding harmful trans fats, and limiting intake of salt and added sugars. MyPyramid only urges you to “choose wisely” when it comes to fat and carbohydrates.

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