Food Pyramid II
Yesterday, I introduced you to a new coalition promoting an approach to dietary guidelines. I'm Jeff Keane; today I'll tell you a little more about their ideas.
A new group called the Nutrient Rich Food Coalition hope to make their approach to healthy eating palatable to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee working under the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services to draft the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This group is comprised of twelve commodity organizations that represent the five basic MyPyramid food groups with leading scientific researchers and communication experts. Many of the older dietary guidelines have taken a negative approach by listing what not to eat. Dayle Hays RD, president of Nutrition for the Future says people want positive advice, they are tired of being scared of food, and confused by the nutrient numbers and want to enjoy eating well. Judi Adams, president of the Grain Foods Foundation says "current nutrition advice has not resonated with the public." She relates the coalition's common-sense message is eat the nutrient-rich food first, then you have room for other fun things as calories allow. The group has developed a consumer-driven nutrition education system to help people get more nutrition from the calories they eat. Research has shown the approach is easy to understand and has consumer appeal. One of the most maligned foods - beef, is shown by the coalition to be part of a healthy diet. I'm Jeff Keane, and you know that I am all for that.
