The USDA has now developed a Food Guide Pyramid for Kids between the ages of 6 and 11 years old. It comes complete with a computerized game called "My Pyramid Blast-Off," in which the kids load up a rocket ship with the right combination of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat free milk and lean meat. If kids choose the wrong foods they cannot blast off to the Power Planet.
Sounds like a great idea, but the problem is that the new food guide pyramid is as awful as the old one was. The old pyramid featured grains on the bottom, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products in the middle, and fats and sweets at the top.
The new one shows vertical bands with grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk and meat or beans. Oils as a food group? This should help a whole new group of kids join the ranks of the obese.
The grains section states that at least half of grain consumption should come from whole grains - that implies that the other half daily from Pop Tarts and Wonder Bread would be ok. Of course, the milk category calls for 3 cups daily - I suppose we need more kids with chronic infections, constipation, anemia, juvenile diabetes, asthma, allergies and other conditions related to milk consumption.
The meat and beans category comes complete with instructions to choose lean meat and chicken or turkey - no recommendations to use beans as a substitute for animal protein.
The reason for this abomination is the influence of agricultural organizations on the USDA's food recommendations. All but one of the members of the committee that developed these recommendations was associated with industry or agriculture, and therefore there could be no recommendations to eat less of some foods, more of others, or God forbid, to eliminate any food.
Sadly, this will be the basis for much of the nutrition education our kids receive in school, and the basis for determining many school lunch programs. And, this is why we have to be more diligent than ever in educating the public about the conflicts of interest in how food policies are set in this country, as well as work to teaching them how to consume a health-building diet. Additionally, it is imperative that changes be made in school lunches, and the education children receive about health and nutrition in school. Although the food industry is powerful, it cannot survive a sustained effort at the grassroots level that results in more and more educated people making better choices!
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