This thursday the government changed the useless food pyramid into an even more useless food plate. It looks like this:
As you can see, they’ve made some better tweaks, the grains are smaller than veggies(I don’t think you need that many veggies though, but less grains is good; should be none though) . Less diary is good too; it’s on the side(should be gone or at least be the whole dairy with less lactose(yogurt, cream…)) They have not made big changes toward optimal health. The plate is confusing than the food pyramid, but they are off track by a huge margin.
This is the worst part:
“All fluid milk products and many foods made from milk are considered part of this food group. Most Dairy Group choices should be fat-free or low-fat. Foods made from milk that retain their calcium content are part of the group. Foods made from milk that have little to no calcium, such as cream cheese, cream, and butter, are not. Calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage) is also part of the Dairy Group.”
– USDA
How the heck is soy dairy!! Soy is a legume that we should all avoid because of lectins and phytates. Then, there’s what you have heard a million times: low-fat and fat-free! When is the FDA going to stop being biased and corrupt and tell the frikin’ truth!? (Saturated fat is good!)The government thinks vegetable and fruit juices are a serving of veggies or fruits: you’ve got to be kidding me! Then there’s soy, bean and peas in the protein group. And they say to avoid the much-needed saturated fats too. 😦
The food plate may be a step in the right direction, but has a long way to go. Nothing is going to change until the FDA and USDA get rid of the biased idiots who mess with the research and, for once, care about people’s health, not the economy.
Join the food fight!!!
ashanaj 
#1 by Colline on June 5, 2011 - 5:22 pm
All depends on how you eat. Vegans and vegetarians would say there is not enough vegetables on the plate!
#2 by buzzingash on June 10, 2011 - 3:05 am
True we paleo dieters want more fat and a little more meat.
#3 by GroundCherry on June 5, 2011 - 6:22 pm
I am thrilled vegetables are increased. I’d like to see half the plate vegetables, and fruit intake lower. Vegetables have the potential to hugely increase the variety in our diets. (Our diets have a serious lack of variety.) Vegetables have also been most closely tied to all sorts of disease prevention. Everything else is sort of iffy.
Oh, for heavens sake, stop abusing soy. I have to admit that I agree that industrial processed soy type foods are far too present in the SAD. Weird fake meats and excessive soy oil are not healthy. However, there are traditional ways, often involving some fermentation and soaking, to eat soy which are just fine.
The point of “dairy” is calcium. Tofu made with calcium is a perfectly acceptable traditional food that can be eaten by anyone who tolerates it in the place of dairy. Additional non-dairy options are available, and if you read the full guidelines carefully, you’ll see them listed. Non-overprocessed soy milk is also fine. Edamame are delicious, and can be eaten in limited quantities by anyone. I recommend all soy be organic, so it’s non-GMO, and avoiding anything with sugar or “flavors” added.
Large amounts of many foods can have harmful effects (alfalfa sprouts can make you very ill; spinach can lead to kidney stones; even too much water can throw your electrolytes off). Moderation and variety are key. Plants balance the need to attract us, but also not have us consume all their products.
#4 by buzzingash on June 10, 2011 - 3:03 am
Yeah I agree with you somewhat, when soy is fermented it’s better. You should still avoid tofu and soy milk though. Unfermented soy has bad phytic acid, interferes with protein digestion and increases the need for vitamin D and B12. Soy protein isn’t great either. It has some bad toxins in it. Soy, if consumed too much, also causes many other health problems. The only reason it is promoted as a health food is because of marketing, profits, business….