Just when you were getting the Nutrition Pyramid down to an exact science, the USDA goes and releases an all new nutrition and diet plan for healthy Americans. On April 19, 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture unveiled its new My Pyramid nutrition pyramid. Available at its own web site (http://www.mypyramid.gov), the new guidelines aren’t so much NEW as they are more in depth, detailed and helpful.
For starters, My Pyramid can be personalized. On the main page, you have the option of entering your age, gender and activity level. Simply click submit and get a recommendation that’s more specific than ‘6-11 servings of grain per day’. Instead of those vague, wide-ranging recommendations, you’ll get a pyramid that says, “6 ounces of grain products”, or 2 1/2 cups vegetables.
Even if that were the ONLY improvement on the new site, it would be tremendous. No more guessing whether you should aim for closer to six servings or closer to eleven. The nutrition calculator factors in your age, gender and activity level (above your normal daily routine) to come up with a recommended caloric intake. From there, it breaks...