The New And Improved Nutrition Pyramid

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Article Title: The New And Improved Nutrition Pyramid

Author: Kirsten Hawkins

Word Count: 508

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Just when you were getting the Nutrition Pyramid down to an

exact science, the USDA goes and releases an all new nutrition

and diet plan for healthy Americans. On April 19, 2005, the

United States Department of Agriculture unveiled its new My

Pyramid nutrition pyramid. Available at its own web site

(http://www.mypyramid.gov), the new guidelines aren't so much

NEW as they are more in depth, detailed and helpful.

For starters, My Pyramid can be personalized. On the main page,

you have the option of entering your age, gender and activity

level. Simply click “submit” and get a recommendation that's

more specific than '6-11 servings of grain per day'. Instead of

those vague, wide-ranging recommendations, you'll get a pyramid

that says, " 6 ounces of grain products " , or 2 1/2 cups

vegetables.

Even if that were the ONLY improvement on the new site, it

would be tremendous. No more guessing whether you should aim

for closer to six servings or closer to eleven. The nutrition

calculator factors in your age, gender and activity level

(above your normal daily routine) to come up with a recommended

caloric intake. From there, it breaks down the calories by food

group, and tells you exactly how much of each group you should

eat per day for a healthy diet. It's far easier to figure out

what 2 cups of milk is than it is to figure out how much '3-5'

servings of dairy is!

But it doesn't stop there. Beneath the pyramid chart with the

specific serving sizes on it, you'll find a list of links to

'tips' for making the healthiest choices from each food group -

divided by food group.

There are some great diet tips there, along with ways to serve

foods in appetizing and nutritious ways. A sampling from each

category includes:

* Grain: Substitute whole grain cereal for bread crumbs in

toppings.

* Vegetables: Try crunchy vegetables raw or lightly steamed.

* Fruits: Try applesauce as a fat-free substitute for oil in

baking.

* Milk: Trim down from whole milk to fat-free gradually, week

by week.

* Meat/Beans: Replace some of the meat in your diet with nuts.

Want to know how your actual diet stacks up against the dietary

guidelines and get specific, personalized recommendations for

improving it? Tucked away at the bottom of the list of links in

the menu you'll find the My Pyramid Tracker. It's easily the

handiest tool that I've ever seen. Enter the foods that you eat

in a typical day, click Analyze, and you'll get a detailed

analysis that includes the calories, the amount of over 25

specific nutrients, the difference between your diet and an

optimum diet, and specific recommendations for changes you

should make to eat a healthier diet. Better yet, you can save

your history day by day to keep track of your eating habits and

watch the improvements. It's the diet diary with a difference.

Use it - and see yourself eating better every day.

About The Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health

expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/

for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well

as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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