Food Pyramid Goes Vertical

[Frank Hagan]

Looks like the USDA changed the food pyramid (http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html) again ...

http://www.mypyramid.gov/MyPyramid_4c.jpg

If they make it any more confusing, people will stop using it. Hey, that's a GOOD thing.

Meanwhile, I found a source for the USDA's old food recommendations. I like the 1943 - 1955 recommendations found in this poster from the collection at the USDA (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/history/basic7.htm):

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/history/0007v.gif

Lose those carbs at the bottom, and we're closer to an ideal diet. I especially like the bit about making sure you get "two tablespoons of butter" daily.

My, how times have changed.

[maxlharris]

That's been the pyramid since at least 2005. It's basically the same old pyramid, only with steps up the side in the belief that they needed to make an emphasis on moving around more.

The upsidedown pyramid works much better. I think Dr. Mike had it on his blog at some point. Meat at the base.

[jclements]

MY Pyramid says I should be eating 10 oz of grains a day. With fruit and milk recs we're talking 300 g of carbs. Though they do advise to watch out for "added sugars" products like yogurt are always packed with sugar. 300g = 75 teaspoons of glucose to metabolize =~1.5 cups glucose sugar, give or take for fructose. Sweet.