Harvard Healthy Eating Pyramid — An Alternative to the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid
A common criticism of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Guide Pyramid is that it offers flawed information that has been influenced more by food industry lobbyists than by nutritional research. The nutrition experts at the Harvard School of Public Health have come up with an alternative Healthy Eating Pyramid, based on the “best available evidence about the links between science and health.”
So what are the differences between the government food pyramid and the Harvard pyramid? One of the biggest differences is that the Harvard pyramid does not specify portion sizes. Instead, their plan is described as a “simple, general, flexible guide to how you should eat when you eat”… the most important thing to remember is to make more food choices from the base of the pyramid and fewer food choices from the top levels of the pyramid. The only true “off limits” foods in the Harvard pyramid are those containing trans fats.
Other major differences are the recommendation of a daily multi-vitamin supplement with extra vitamin D… more of an emphasis on whole grains… the recommendation that 20 to 35 percent of our daily calories should come from healthy fats like olive oil… and decreased emphasis on red meat, dairy products, and refined grains.
I think the most interesting aspect of the Harvard pyramid is the implied emphasis on personal control. Instead of specified portions or even food categories, the Harvard pyramid is adjustable to each person’s lifestyle choices… from meat eaters to vegetarians… with current nutritional guidelines for long-term health.
My family eats more like the Harvard plan than the USDA plan. We don’t eat red meat, we eat lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains, we indulge only occasionally in cookies and cakes made with white flour. Having the soy allergy actually makes us eat more healthy foods… because everything we eat has to be made from scratch and from natural ingredients, so that eliminates any trans fats. I have mixed feelings about the vitamin supplements, and I wish the researchers would stop giving such conflicting recommendations on the subject. I also wish that most of the supplements didn’t contain some form of soy!
Which plan is the best fit for your family?
Written by Shirley | Filed Under Frugality & Nutrition series
Comments
Comment by SeekingSimplicity:
Thanks for this post. I think that Harvard’s Food Pyramid is a better (although still not flawless) alternative to the USDA’s pyramid, which – like you said – is based on flawed research. I am a vegetarian on my way to becoming a vegan and I take an interest in the relationship between health and voluntary simplicity not only for my own well being, but also so that I can learn how to live a more socially conscious and responsible lifestyle. I know that before I start tackling these issues on a larger scale, I have to be able to practice voluntary simplicity myself. So for now, I am working to cook more from scratch – using whole, organic, and local ingredients whenever possible and to continue to learn about where our food comes from and how politically-charged issues of food can really be in this country. Again, thank you for the post.
Comment by Blaire Nisson:
Good food for thought. I too wonder why the medical profession don’t agree on if vitamin supplements are necessary or not. Several recent reports have indicated that synthetic vitamins and minerals are not as effective as those from food sources. I think the conflicting information is what makes me the most frustrated. I can want to do the right thing for my family but if I can’t a definitive source for what is the right thing how do I know what to do? Thanks for this post.
Comment by Mrs. Faye Acethon:
Actually I am sorry to say that my family’s diet isn’t what it should be. We eat entirely too much already prepared food so for me the other pyramid is probably closer to the changes we would actually make. Its time and what we’re used to that causes problems. It isn’t that I don’t want us to eat healthy. Your writings have been a big help to me. I am starting to do better. Keep up the good work please.
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