Is MyPyramid Useful?

MyPyramid contains helpful advice about nutrition and physical activity. Can it help us combat obesity?

The old Food Guide Pyramid contained useful, nutritionally sound information. But it was confusing and nobody used it correctly. The new version, MyPyramid, was introduced in 2005. It is based on the latest science and the best research. But the promotion budget was inadequate, and a lot of the information is located on the website. Teachers in the United States use it to teach their nutrition units. How can they use it effectively? And how can parents use it to teach good nutrition to their children?

The truth is, the advice given by the USDA for kids (and adults) is useful and sound. Go at your own pace. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Exercise. Eat a variety of foods. Why is it so hard to follow? Part is because we're surrounded by bad choices. Diet pills. Quick fixes that don't work. Junk food. Media full of skinny or muscular people who are airbrushed, Photoshopped and employ a dietician, chef and personal trainer.

In competing with all of these issues, the advice given by MyPyramid is simple, yes, but hard! It is hard for children to say no to candy and junk food. It is hard to exercise every day. It is hard to limit yourself to a suitable portion of food. And it is hard to see images of people everyday who look skinny and healthy, and not know that in reality that they are computerized and eating disordered.

As adults, we have our own issues with food and body image. But we are the ones who need to teach children about proper nutrition and exercise, and MyPyramid can help. Using MyPyramid, kids can see what kinds of food they should eat and how much of each kind of food. At its best, it offers kids a chance to talk about all of these issues with adults, and we can provide them with the opportunity to make good choices. And the more good choices the kids learn are available, the more they are likely to make.