DATE: 5/16/05

CONTACT: Katherine Cason, (864) 656-0539

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

New Food Guide Pyramid gets personal

CLEMSON ­ Have you looked closely at the new USDA Food Guide Pyramid? There’s a figure climbing up the side. That’s a subtle suggestion that Americans should get up off the couch and get moving if they want to slim down.

“For the first time, the pyramid includes recommendations for physical activity,” said Katherine Cason, Clemson University professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. “Food is still categorized into food groups, but how much of each food group you should eat depends on your age, gender, activity level and basically, how many calories you need for a healthy weight.”

The USDA released its new food guide, MyPyramid and slogan “Steps to a Healthier You” in April to help combat the growing problems of obesity, poor nutrition and lack of fitness for many Americans.

The new guide is personalized for each individual.  Go to: http://www.MyPyramid.gov . The new pyramid still suggests you eat grains, fruits, oils, milk, meat and beans each day, but how much of each depends on your age, gender and activity level.

MyPyramid includes six bands representing the five food groups and oils. This is to show that foods from all groups are needed each day for good health. Oils are included for the first time because research shows that vegetables oils and oils in some fish contain fatty acids that are important for health.

Here’s how it works. Suppose you are 30-year-old woman with less than 30 minutes a day of physical activity – the guide recommends you eat 6 ounces of grains, 2.5 cups of vegetables, 1.5 cups of fruits, 3 cups of milk and 5 ounces of meat and beans a day.  It also suggests you aim for 5 teaspoons of oils a day.

“With MyPyramid, Americans can personalize their approach when choosing a healthier lifestyle that balances nutrition and physical activity,” said Cason. “Many Americans can dramatically improve their overall health by making modest improvements to their diets and by incorporating regular physical activity into their daily lives.”

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