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I recently began looking for a (much) healthier version of the average American's diet in an effort to avoid foods filled with saturated fat, salt, and a host of other harmful chemical additives. Since the government's food pyramid has been so prevalent in society, I decided to start there. I didn't realize that it had been replaced with MyPlate. After studying both diets, I wasn't satisfied.
One of the main problems with the pyramid is the recommendation for us to eat 6-11 portions of breads, pastas, and other grain products every day. Not only does research suggest that is too much, there is no mention of whole grains versus refined grains. Another shortcoming is that the pyramid lumps meat, poultry, fish, and nuts together despite having very different nutrition profiles. Poultry typically has significantly less fat than meat, some fish, and nuts. additionally, it doesn't distinguish between the healthy fat in fish and nuts versus the unhealthy saturated fats often contained in meat. I also believe there to be too much dairy at 2-3 servings per day. Why do human adults (or children, for that matter) need to drink the milk of another animal? The top of the pyramid (fats, oils, sweets) also doesn't distinguish between healthy fats in some oils and unhealthy fats in sweets. Furthermore, listing fat as a food item is confusing. Is fat a food group or do they mean straight lard?
In 2011, the pyramid was replaced with MyPlate. Although the MyPlate recommendations suggest a greater amount of nutrition coming from fruits and vegetables, it still comes up short in other areas. The guidelines still allow for half of grains to be refined while in the meat section, they do not differentiate processed meats like hotdogs and sausages. Meanwhile, healthy fats are completely missing from the plate. My dairy concerns remain from the earlier pyramid.
Thankfully, I came across a better way. It's called the Healthy Eating Pyramid, created by Harvard University based on legitimate nutritional research without influence from the food industry lobby, something that cannot be said for the USDA's efforts. Harvard's pyramid makes a number of key improvements and distinctions compared to the USDA's recommendations. First, not only are there distinctions made between whole grains and refined grains, the quantity of refined grains is significantly reduced. The same thing goes for red meat and processed meats. They are separated from fish and poultry, and recommended to be eaten sparingly.
Furthermore, Harvard researches included sections with healthy oils, nuts and seeds, which helps distinguish between essential fats and unhealthy/saturated fats. The recommendation for dairy is also lower than the USDA's pyramid, suggesting either 1-2 servings per day or supplementation with calcium and vitamin D.
In my opinion, Harvard's pyramid is substantially healthier than either of the USDA's attempts. It seems more independent and based on better research. If you are considering making improvements to your diet, I suggest you take a look at the Healthy Eating Pyramid.
One of the main problems with the pyramid is the recommendation for us to eat 6-11 portions of breads, pastas, and other grain products every day. Not only does research suggest that is too much, there is no mention of whole grains versus refined grains. Another shortcoming is that the pyramid lumps meat, poultry, fish, and nuts together despite having very different nutrition profiles. Poultry typically has significantly less fat than meat, some fish, and nuts. additionally, it doesn't distinguish between the healthy fat in fish and nuts versus the unhealthy saturated fats often contained in meat. I also believe there to be too much dairy at 2-3 servings per day. Why do human adults (or children, for that matter) need to drink the milk of another animal? The top of the pyramid (fats, oils, sweets) also doesn't distinguish between healthy fats in some oils and unhealthy fats in sweets. Furthermore, listing fat as a food item is confusing. Is fat a food group or do they mean straight lard?
In 2011, the pyramid was replaced with MyPlate. Although the MyPlate recommendations suggest a greater amount of nutrition coming from fruits and vegetables, it still comes up short in other areas. The guidelines still allow for half of grains to be refined while in the meat section, they do not differentiate processed meats like hotdogs and sausages. Meanwhile, healthy fats are completely missing from the plate. My dairy concerns remain from the earlier pyramid.
Thankfully, I came across a better way. It's called the Healthy Eating Pyramid, created by Harvard University based on legitimate nutritional research without influence from the food industry lobby, something that cannot be said for the USDA's efforts. Harvard's pyramid makes a number of key improvements and distinctions compared to the USDA's recommendations. First, not only are there distinctions made between whole grains and refined grains, the quantity of refined grains is significantly reduced. The same thing goes for red meat and processed meats. They are separated from fish and poultry, and recommended to be eaten sparingly.
Furthermore, Harvard researches included sections with healthy oils, nuts and seeds, which helps distinguish between essential fats and unhealthy/saturated fats. The recommendation for dairy is also lower than the USDA's pyramid, suggesting either 1-2 servings per day or supplementation with calcium and vitamin D.
In my opinion, Harvard's pyramid is substantially healthier than either of the USDA's attempts. It seems more independent and based on better research. If you are considering making improvements to your diet, I suggest you take a look at the Healthy Eating Pyramid.
About the Author:
If you would like to learn to eat healthier, please see my webpage at FDA why are processed foods bad or why are artificial sweeteners bad for you
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