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New Food Pyramid Introduces an Online System for
Determining Individual Needs
Senior Citizens can learn their individual food group
daily needs
 April
19, 2005 On the same day one government agency releases statistics
showing a surprising number of deaths among the underweight elderly,
another released the new food pyramid that emphasizes the need for a
more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle.
The new food pyramid, called MyPyramid,
incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, which was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in
January.
The new program is particularly designed for use on
the Web. By following this link
Click Here an individual starts the process by entering their age.
With other data input, the system will give precise results on the
amount of each food group the user needs daily.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today unveiled
MyPyramid, as a new symbol and interactive food guidance system. Steps
to a Healthier You, MyPyramids central message, supports President
Bushs HealthierUS initiative which is designed to help Americans live
longer, better and healthier lives, says Johanns.
MyPyramid, which replaces the Food Guide Pyramid
introduced in 1992, is part of an overall food guidance system that
emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet
and lifestyle.
MyPyramid is about the ability of Americans to
personalize their approach when choosing a healthier lifestyle that
balances nutrition and exercise, said Johanns. Many Americans can
dramatically improve their overall health by making modest improvements
to their diets and by incorporating regular physical activity into their
daily lives.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide
authoritative advice for people two years of age and older about how
proper dietary habits can promote health and reduce the risk of major
chronic diseases. MyPyramid was developed to carry the messages of the
dietary guidelines and to make Americans aware of the vital health
benefits of simple and modest improvements in nutrition, physical
activity and lifestyle behavior.
The MyPyramid symbol, which is deliberately simple,
is meant to encourage consumers to make healthier food choices and to be
active every day. Consumers can get more in-depth information from the
new Web site,
MyPyramid.gov, so that they can make these choices to fit their own
needs.
The MyPyramid symbol represents the recommended
proportion of foods from each food group and focuses on the importance
of making smart food choices in every food group, every day. Physical
activity is a new element in the symbol.
MyPyramid illustrates:
-
Personalization,
demonstrated by the MyPyramid Web site. To find a personalized
recommendation of the kinds and amounts of food to eat each day, go
to
MyPyramid.gov.
-
Gradual
improvement,
encouraged by the slogan, Steps to a Healthier You. It suggests
that individuals can benefit from taking small steps to improve
their diet and lifestyle each day.
-
Physical
activity,
represented by the steps and the person climbing them, as a reminder
of the importance of daily physical activity.
-
Variety,
symbolized by the six color bands representing the five food groups
of MyPyramid and oils. Foods from all groups are needed each day for
good health.
-
Moderation,
represented by the narrowing of each food group from bottom to top.
The wider base stands for foods with little or no solid fats, added
sugars, or caloric sweeteners. These should be selected more often
to get the most nutrition from calories consumed.
-
Proportionality,
shown by the different widths of the food group bands. The widths
suggest how much food a person should choose from each group. The
widths are just a general guide, not exact proportions. Check
MyPyramid.gov for the amount that is right for you.
The new food guidance system utilizes interactive
technology found on
MyPyramid.gov. MyPyramid contains interactive activities that make
it easy for individuals to key in their age, gender and physical
activity level so that they can get a more personalized recommendation
on their daily calorie level based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans. It also allows individuals to find general food guidance and
suggestions for making smart choices from each food group.
MyPyramid.gov features:
-
MyPyramid Plan
provides a quick estimate of what and how much food you should eat
from the different food groups by entering your age, gender and
activity level.
-
MyPyramid
Tracker
provides more detailed information on your diet quality and
physical activity status by comparing a days worth of foods eaten
with current nutrition guidance. Relevant nutrition and physical
activity messages are tailored to your desire to maintain your
current weight or to lose weight.
-
Inside
MyPyramid
provides in-depth information for every food group, including
recommended daily amounts in commonly used measures, like cups and
ounces, with examples and everyday tips. The section also includes
recommendations for choosing healthy oils, discretionary calories
and physical activity.
-
Start Today
provides tips and resources that include downloadable suggestions
on all the food groups and physical activity, and a worksheet to
track what you are eating.
Future enhancements to
MyPyramid.gov will include features that make it possible for
consumers to make specific food choices by group, look at everyday
portions of favorite foods and adjust their choices to meet their daily
needs.
A child-friendly version of MyPyramid for teachers
and children is being developed. This version of MyPyramid is intended
to reach children 6 to 11 years old with targeted messages about the
importance of making smart eating and physical activity choices.
Additional information about USDAs MyPyramid is available at
MyPyramid.gov. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and
consumer brochure are available at
www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines
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