The famous food pyramid from 1992 was ousted in 2010 by the food plate, but the portions still aren’t right, as reported by The Huffington Post.
The food pyramid featured a base of six to 11 servings of carbohydrates (breads, cereal, rice and pasta), but that has changed to just a quarter of a plate containing carbs. Fruits and vegetables make up 5 to 9 servings total on the food pyramid, but half the food plate contains fruits and vegetables. The food pyramid had two other categories: milk, yogurt and cheese and meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts. The food plate has a place for protein, and a separate component for dairy.
Despite the nutritional changes from the food pyramid to the food plate, many Americans still face heart disease, diabetes and obesity. A high carb diet can play a large part in these health problems, but so can a diet that includes many low-fat products, which leave out other necessary nutrients. Proportion sizes, socioeconomic situations and junk food also contribute to health problems.
Updated insights on what a balanced, nutritional diet should look like will be provided with 2015 guidelines.
Via: The Huffington Post > What the government got wrong about nutrition — and how it can be fixed
