Dietary Guidelines

The Federal government releases a new set of food and nutrition guidelines for Americans every five years. Consistent with past, Oldways submitted recommendations to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, and was pleased with the changes adopted for these 2005 guidelines. Also in 2005, in April, the Federal government released a new food guide graphic, the first change since the outdated 1992 version of the food guide pyramids. The graphic, available online at mypyramid.gov, is a welcome and major departure from the ineffective 1992 graphic.

Here are some points emphasized by Dun Gifford, president of Oldways, in 2005 when MyPyramid was first introduced:

Using the Internet
It's brilliant to put the power of the government behind the educational power of the Internet to encourage better nutrition. It encourages self-knowledge and individual decisions, the keys to success, and the only effective channel for change. This has the power to personalize dietary guidelines as never before.

Power of Language
The new food guidance explicitly acknowledges that one size does not fit all, the concept that has crippled prior government food guidance.

In addition, Oldways released a QuickBrief called "MyPyramid, An Evaluation After Two Weeks." Here are a few points from the QuickBrief:

Change Is Good
Let's face it, the old pyramid system just didn't work. We can all agree on that. So, a brand new approach is really a public health imperative. MyPyramid retains the familiar triangular shape, promoting quick recognition and easing the uncertainty that changes always bring.

Getting with the Times
In a major leap forward, MyPyramid comes in two flavors, internet and print. Since reaching kids early about diet is a key to lifelong good health, and since kids are largely computer literate, this can be a momentous marriage. Even better, the graphical interface was prepared with the help of professionals in food marketing, increasing the odds for MyPyramid's long-term success.

Deserting "Servings"
After 35 years consumers are still bewitched, bothered, and bewildered by "servings" and "serving sizes." MyPyramid takes the common-sense approach and uses familiar everyday measures like ounces and cups.

Selling the Food Guidance
MyPyramid's "rays" clearly indicate the food groups to emphasize and the food groups to minimize: eat more from the wider rays, and less from the narrower rays. It also avoids the past's ineffective admonitions to "eat/drink more of this, eat/drink less of that," placing the focus instead where it belongs - on a balance among the food groups, and an equilibrium calories in and calories out.