HWN Suggests

The corrupt history of the food pyramid

You might think that what you're looking at here [the food pyramid] is a work of science that back in the 1970’s, scientists without vested interests, methodically reviewed the science to determine the healthiest diet. And then presented this to the public. Unsurprisingly, this didn't actually happen. Most of us are acutely aware that science and politics shouldn't mix and yet they're inseparable. The fact is when we mix science with politics, we get politics and the food pyramid is a product of politics. The backdrop to the story of the food pyramid begins in post war 1950's America, deaths from competing causes, namely war and infection had drastically reduced.

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 RFK Jr’s new diet guidelines pose risks for health and the environment, experts say

It’s unclear how big an impact the guidelines will have on US adults’ behavior. Waterman said Americans have tended to ignore past iterations of the DGA that encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption, but “this could be different in the sense that people want to eat more meat and dairy”. Waterman is most concerned about how the guidelines will affect school lunches, as children who consume them don’t have control over whether to follow the guidelines or not.

 The Food Pyramid Scheme

If you think there’s something fishy about the new guidelines, wait a few years. They’ll almost certainly change. As for you—protein, dairy, and healthy fats—heed my words: You’re on top now, but you’ll wake up one day and find yourself back at the bottom. That’s just life on the food pyramid.

 The New Dietary Guidelines Are Stressing Me Out as a Working Mom of 4

While taking added sugar off the table sounds good in theory, there is very little chance most parents can actually pull that off. Under those recommendations, Halloween treats are off the table. So is birthday cake. Oh, and you can forget about school lunches too. Bribing your toddler to eat her veggies with the promise of a small sweet treat afterward? Nope, can’t. Doesn’t meet the guidelines. Of course, anything that comes in a package is probably off-limits.

 The new food pyramid is lying to you

It’s also a contradictory mess. If you’re a weirdo like me, however, the guidance offers a fascinating glimpse into the Make America Healthy Again movement’s push to remake American food culture, as well as the limits of those aspirations. A lot of its advice, to the relief of nutritionists and to the annoyance of some members of the MAHA coalition, is consistent with the expert consensus that has long formed the foundation of US dietary guidelines. Yet the guidelines also make a show of dispensing with expertise and making provocative, ill-supported recommendations in the language of science.

 Why experts are divided over the new federal dietary guidelines

I think there's a lot to like in these guidelines and also a number of items to be concerned about. In terms of what to like, I think the overall focus on eating real food is great and really landmark progress in the U.S., where we know that the majority of our diets come from ultra-processed foods that are linked to an array of chronic diseases. And so having this very clear, simple guidance to eat real food, I think is enormously helpful, both for policymakers and for your everyday consumer. On the other hand the guidelines also contain a number of items, such as the increased recommendation for meat and dairy and the elimination of the alcohol guideline, that are quite concerning.

Articles of Interest

A Brief History of the USDA Food Guides

1992: Food Guide Pyramid • Total diet approach—goals for both nutrient adequacy and moderation • Developed using consumer research to bring awareness to the new food patterns • Illustration focused on concepts of variety, moderation, and proportion • Included visualization of added fats and sugars throughout five food groups and in the tip • Included range for daily amounts of food across three calorie levels.

America’s new food pyramid – what’s changed and why?

The US has unveiled a controversial new food pyramid that’s causing a stir among nutrition experts. It represents the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans – advice on what types and quantities of food and drink make up a healthy diet. But the Trump administration’s new guidelines differ in many ways from previous versions. Most striking is the moralising language about “real” food and a stark shift of responsibility onto individuals, with all consideration of health equity stripped away. The change from the previous plate graphic to an inverted pyramid looks revolutionary at first glance. But dig deeper and the actual dietary advice hasn’t changed as much as the presentation suggests.

Beef Tallow, Long a Health Pariah, Rises to the Top of the Food Pyramid

The new dietary guidelines give federal approval to a fat that has slowly caught on with consumers, even as doctors have warned against it.

Get the Facts: How has the food pyramid changed in US history?

The guidelines bring back a food pyramid, which has not been a part of guidelines since before MyPlate was introduced in 2011. This time, the visual represents an inverted pyramid with protein, dairy, healthy fats, vegetables and fruits on top and whole grains on the bottom.

New dietary guidelines flip the food pyramid

Many experts had feared that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would raise the cap on the amount of saturated fats recommended in the diet, but the guidelines still specify that no more than 10 percent of calories should come from saturated fats.

New Dietary Guidelines Urge People to Eat More Protein and Fewer Processed Foods

The guidelines also soften recommendations on alcohol and laud the benefits of red meat, dairy, and butter, worrying some doctors and nutritionists who say such guidance could be confusing and even harmful.

The New Food Pyramid, Brought to You by Big Meat

Food pyramids may seem quaint, but they shape the content of a great many meals — school lunches, military rations, federal nutrition programs, hospital menus. Mr. Kennedy has endorsed a framework that recommends Americans eat up to twice as much protein as previously advised, despite little evidence that most Americans are short on protein.

Trump administration's new food pyramid puts meat, cheese and vegetables at the top

The Trump administration has unveiled a new food pyramid that puts meat and cheese at the top, alongside fruits and vegetables, and calls for fewer highly processed foods.