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March 12, 2008
Step Right Up
You've all seen the Food Pyramid right? Think back to 8th grade health class. And if you're nutrition or news savvy, you probably know the Pyramid had a makeover not too long ago, and was revamped as MyPyramid, with a broad strokes makeover aimed at individualizing nutrition for a highly diverse audience (that's us folks, the US of A). Still, nutrition experts argue that the Pyramid has its flaws--it doesn't distinguish between a healthy grain (namely, whole grains) and every other grain (white bread), doesn't explain which fruits and vegetables are the most nutrient rich and has a debatably high recommended intake of dairy. There is not a lot of talk about healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, coconut oil and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon, herring and sardines) versus unhealthy fats (like margarine and other trans fats, which promote heart disease) in MyPyramid, and it's still not encouraging more fish and beans as healthy protein alternatives to a nation whose cardiovascular systems are paying the price for an abundannce of red meat. But for all the marks it misses, it's trying to catch the general public up to speed with the leading research, starting with the little figure stepping up the side the pyramid, reminding us that exercise is an integral part of the whole equation.
But a simple pyramid has a long way to go to answer the question what to eat -- the question that decades of conflicting nutritional literature and an overdose of fad diets has made increasingly difficult to answer. Because what we should eat is highly personal and no two people's bodies require exactly the same formula of nutrients to thrive. Recommendations for what to eat should take into account our age, sex, level of physical activity, family health history and so much more. That's why MyPyramid earned big points today by launching a Menu Planner function that's a good start toward planning meals that fulfill your individual daily requirements. It allows you to plug in your name, age, weight and activity level and save your settings to start building weekly menus that help you reach your nutrition goals (or at least the recommendations the USDA sees fit). Best of all, you can add a tab for each member of the family to make sure everyone gets a shot at optimal health!
After all, health is the greatest wealth, goes the saying.
For more on What to Eat, check out Dr. Marion Nestle's book by the same title, along with her blog that aims at keeping America nutrition-wise! Nestle, Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, is my nutrition guru, and the most honest source I know. She's also a saint for going after all of the laws*, policies, companies and propaganda that prohibit American's from attaining the ultimate nutrition that is not only our birthright, but should be our constitutional right as well. But in the end, it's really up to you. No one's forcing you to eat those French fries, and a little planning ensures that you don't need to resort to desperate measures.
Remember, you are what you eat, so plan well, eat well and be well.
Sarah Copeland, Food Network Kitchens
* Dr. Nestle fought tirelessly along with dozens of other for the New York City Health Department to ban trans fat in New York City. Thanks to those efforts, my city banned trans fats back in 2006 and should be completely trans-fat free by this July. Throughout it all, I love Nestle's ability to explain why (in terms that don't require a Ph.D or an M.P.H.) banning unhealthy ingredients like trans fats, which are still found in fast food chains and packaged foods all over the nation, can have major health benefits for the whole lot of us!
Posted by Food Network at March 12, 2008 12:19 PM
Comments
As a health counselor, I was also interested when I saw the "Menu Planner" make its debut. However, out of the first three foods I put in - arugula, quinoa, and kumquats - all of which I ate today, none were in the system. Honestly, I know these foods don't appear on every American's dinner plate, but they are readily available at many mainstream grocery stores. I'd be interested to see if most people find this tool useful.
Thanks for emphasizing the importance of bioindividuality in determining the best foods for ourselves!
Posted by: Jessica at March 12, 2008 4:04 PM