You may remember that six years ago the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) came out with a new and improved food pyramid.
Growing up I distinctly remember the old food pyramid (originating in 1992) because it was often found on the back of my cereal boxes. I pretty much had it memorized.
It was a big deal to me when the food pyramid was updated in 2005 because I was a health science student at the time and a change like that was not only needed but a big deal.
Visually the pyramid changed from having categories organized horizontally to vertically. Another change was the serving and portion sizes. The old pyramid used the word ‘servings’, giving examples of what a serving size is. While the new pyramid uses more specific measurements such as 6 ounces for grains and 2.5 cups for vegetables.
Another change to the new pyramid that I think is significant is the addition of physical exercise. While the old pyramid did not include exercise, the new pyramid makes two points. It states that adults should have thirty minutes of physical activity most days of the week and children should have sixty minutes. It also notes that sixty to ninety minutes of physical activity several days a week may be needed to prevent weight gain or to help with weight loss.
If you are interested in looking at the history of the food pyramids click here.
Getting in your physical activity can be done in a lot of ways. Common physical activities include cardio workouts such as sports, working out at the gym, hiking, biking, etc. Physical activity can be found in other ways too such as gardening, cleaning house, etc. Some jobs keep you on your feet and can count towards your daily physical activity.
I like this version of the food pyramid because it clarifies the amount of food I should eat in each food group. I also like how it includes the importance of physical activity, something I am passionate about.
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