How to make the new food pyramid work for you
That colorful pyramid displayed on your cereal boxes and food labels has had a makeover. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) turned the Food Guide Pyramid on its side and replaced it with
MyPyramid.
MyPyramid emphasizes an individualized diet that is based on age, sex and physical activity. The new chart uses colorful stripes to represent the recommended daily proportion of foods from each food group depending on age and sex. A staircase attached to the pyramid also reminds Americans to be more active.
"The new pyramid reinforces that healthy eating, physical activity and enjoying all foods in moderation helps maintain long-term health and prevents chronic diseases," advises
Mary Campagnolo, MD, chief of family medicine at Virtua Memorial Hospital.