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New Food Guide Pyramid coming June 2

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In an exclusive interview with WebMD, the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA) says the replacement for the Food Pyramid will be announced on June 2

-- and that the new icon heralds a " monumental effort " to improve America's

health.

Why a new icon? The pyramid really does not capture the public's attention

anymore, C. Post, PhD, deputy director of the USDA Center for

Nutrition Policy and Promotion, tells WebMD.

" Consumers can look forward to a new, simple, easy-to-understand cue to

prompt healthy choices, " Post tells WebMD. " You will get this monumental

effort across all agencies as well as the private sector. A partnership with

the goal of improving the health of all Americans. "

One of the few people who already has seen the icon is WebMD Director of

Nutrition Kathleen Zelman, RD.

" This icon really has the potential to trigger an 'aha!' moment, where

people say, 'Hey, this is not that hard, I can do this,' " Zelman says.

" These 'aha!' moments are what make people finally change their behavior. "

The release of the icon marks the launch of a massive effort to promote the

USDA/HHS dietary guidelines announced last January.

*New Diet Icon Marks New U.S. Health Strategy*

You'll be seeing the icon everywhere. Every relevant federal agency will be

doing its part. The White House will play a leading role, coordinating the

new USDA/HHS dietary guidelines with Obama's Let's Move initiative.

The old diet plan was to tell Americans what they should eat and hope for

the best. The new plan is vastly more active and will reach people at home,

at school, at work, at play, and especially at supermarkets and restaurants.

" What we learned is it is not just giving information, it is a matter of

making people understand there are options and practical ways to apply this

to their lifestyle, " Post says. " There will be a 'how-to' that will resonate

with individuals. That is the behavioral part that is needed. We need to

transcend information -- 'here's what the science says' -- and give people

the tools and the opportunities to take action. "

There are six how-to messages to guide healthy eating:

- Enjoy your food, but eat less.

- Avoid oversized portions.

- Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables.

- Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

- Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose

the foods with lower numbers.

- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Doing all of this at once may be too much to swallow. So the USDA plan is to

stress one idea at a time.

First up will be the " make half of your plate fruits and vegetables " advice.

It will be supported by a wide array of guidance on exactly how to do this.

For example, one might add fruit to a leafy green salad. Or replace a sugary

dessert with a bowl of fruit.

Post notes that the government can't do this alone. Key to the plan is a

myriad of private/public partnerships with a wide variety of businesses

ranging from grocery to media companies.

" The fact they are reaching out to a broad partnership is important, because

we need all the ammunition we can get to fight the epidemics of obesity and

diabetes, " Zelman says.

SOURCES:

C. Post, PhD, deputy director, Center for Nutrition Policy and

Promotion, USDA.

Kathleen Zelman, RD, director of nutrition, WebMD.

USDA and HHS, 2010 Dietary Guidelines, released Jan. 31, 2011.

www.medscape.com

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

Join me on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/TheFrugalDietitian?ref=ts>

Polo Shirt with your logo: $2.95 shipped Great Father’s Day

Gift<http://thefrugaldietitian.com/?p=20750>

* " Nutrition is a Science, Not an Opinion Survey " *

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