Want to have a say in the next round of Dietary Guidelines?
Think the Food Pyramid is a crock? Think the government's dietary recommendations are overly influenced by food commodity and other commercial interests? Now's your chance to put in your two cents' worth.
A panel of scientists is now considering what changes should be made in the most recent set (2005) of Dietary Guidelines for Americans for the upcoming 2010 recommendations. They've invited the public to comment--but few are aware that this is going on.
Who's commenting? Professional groups, independent researchers, health policy agencies, and LOTS of food commodity and industry groups. You can read the comments that have been submitted (and/or submit your own) at the USDA website. See also this related story from the L.A. Times.
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Posted by: Day Spring Center | Jan 5, 2009 5:54:15 PM
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Posted by: Sue Clinton | Nov 22, 2008 4:40:04 PM
I am in total agreement with D'Aun Carrell. Knowledge is power!
Teaching the basics about health-giving food and basically how it works in the body is what is needed.
I became a nutritionist after 40 so unfortunately my children were almost teenagers before they were able to take advantage of this knowledge. Each of them have their own preferences, regardless they each know what constitutes healthy food and know how they feel when they eat certain foods. We have also had food sensitivity testing done (ELISA) which was a great help, however, some of the foods (pasteurized dairy and wheat)we already had the feeling they were causing health concerns. Wheat and dairy boards should not influence food pyramids! Knowledge IS power!
Posted by: D'Aun Carrell | Nov 17, 2008 9:26:30 PM
I said 6 years ago when Missouri Nutrition Network ask my opinion on new ways to show children good health that we must think "out of the pyramid". In a simple study I did with 20 children ranging in ages 2 thru 10. I placed a picture of a triangle in front of them, asked them to close their eyes and when they opened their eyes to immediately point to the spot on the pyramid they saw first. Without exception, they all pointed to the top. What is at the top of the food pyramid? Sugars and Fats. Those are not even nutrients or a food group. When the new MyPyarmid came out, I dropped my membership in the organization. Children today are savvy and smart...
I mean street-smart. And the study of health needs to catch up. Teach, at an early age, the true food groups.
Carbohydrates: simple and complex, Proteins: plant and animal and Minerals: calcium-potassium-zinc- sodium,- manganize, etc. Give them the correct scientific base and by the time they are 10 or 12, they will know what happens when that banana or cookie or chicken goes in their mouth. Children with this information will instill it in their children, even if they do not practice it in their youth. Knowing is power over ignorance. With ignorance there is no choice, but with knowledge one always has a choice. And the power to make the right one. Parents are the first defense against poor health, Teachers next.
If you are well through good diet, then you will be well in a good life.
Posted by: katleen white | Nov 17, 2008 6:51:01 PM
I am so glad to see there is a discussion about this and an openess to hear other points of view.
As a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and have worked with clients regarding this very issue, I a can cofidentally add that there are so many factors concerning the area of how and what to eat. The only way you are going to have people eat any of the foods in any pyramid is to take steps deeper into explaining the WHY they should be eating them. It is not all about calories, grams of fats, proteins and carbs. It is not a math equation.It is also ineffective to just put up a list of healthy foods most people already know that they are eating unhealthy. Instead focus on the great things whole foods provide for us. Focus on clean organic foods and how the chemicalized , packaged and unliving foods hurt our bodies by causing them to put out more energy and getting nothing for it in return which causes stress ont their bodies .This is among many other ways to help make the connection of why they should eat these foods to begin with.Changing peoples relationship with food is the ONLY way to make any food pyramid work. Frankly it will never matter what you put in the food pyramid with out an honest campaign if you will, that is in addition to the pyramid, of stressing the true importance of eating whole foods. If this were not true then we would have a very healthy society right now instead of facing a health crisis in the years to come. Thankyou for the opportunity to show another side to this very important issue.
Posted by: Chris Schulman | Nov 17, 2008 5:39:52 PM
I feel helpless against this. I know how heavily the USDA is influenced by the food industry, but I wouldn't comment on the food pyramid with a gun to my head. I've studied nutrition as a layperson for 30 years, since Adelle Davis's books got me excited about the subject. I've reached my best understanding of nutrition, which evolves as I continue to study, and use it to shape my own diet and health habits. Aside from that, my only consistent conclusion about nutrition is that I can't rely on anyone but myself. There is so much disagreement on nearly every aspect of nutrition, such a wide range of opinions, that I haven't found any "authorities" that I trust. I use my understanding for myself, but against the roiling flood of nutritional information, I wouldn't presume to advise anyone else.
So there's no useful comment I could make on the food pyramid. As if the USDA would pay attention to me anyway.
My best hope is that the incoming federal administration will sweep out the agency staff who have, in every area of government, stomped science into the ground and let industry, ideology, and religion run the show. My best hope is that instead we will have the best people from every science and every school of healing working toward the best possible consensus on public health matters such as the food pyramid.
Posted by: Joe Collins | Nov 7, 2008 8:19:02 AM
There is NO mention of Omega3 vs Omega6 oils and most nutritionists would agree a diet higher in Omega 3 oils (and lower in Omega 6 oils) is optimal. I urge them to incorporate those details and also require the nutrient labels on food to show:
Omega 3/Omega 6
Glycemic Index
Inflammatory index
This would be very helpful to consumers, both in highlighting the topic and also allowing them to shop smart.
Posted by: Family Nutritionist | Nov 6, 2008 10:30:04 AM
Those comments are interesting. The first week's worth promote an evidence-based process and a plant-based diet. Then came comments from food lobbies, including 10 from the National Dairy Council. A USDA soil conservationist recommends removing grains from the pyramid entirely, a paleo-nutritionist wants the new guidelines to call for more fiber, an advocate for children's nutrition wants to force schools lunches to follow USDA guidelines, and a sustainablity advocate wants the new pyramid to be formulated from an understanding of food cycles and sustainable practices. So far, there are only 38 comments.
The USDA promises to provide minutes of meetings at http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dietaryguidelines.htm
