Pyramid Building

Pyramid Building

Pyramids of Giza In the children's book Who Built the Pyramid?, (1) different people take credit for building the once-grand pyramid of Senwosret. King Senwosret, of course, claims the honor. But so does his architect, the quarry master, the stonecutters, slaves, and the boys who carried water to the workers.

The USDA's MyPyramid also had many builders. Some are obvious—USDA scientists, nutrition experts, staff members, and consultants. Others aren't. Intense lobbying efforts from a variety of food industries also helped shape the pyramid.

In theory, the USDA pyramid should reflect the nutrition advice assembled in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. According to the USDA, the guidelines "provide authoritative advice for people two years and older about how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases."

This document, which by law must be revised every five years, aims to offer sound nutrition advice that corresponds to the latest scientific research; indeed, on April 10, 2008, the USDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to form the advisory committee for the 2010 version of the guidelines. The panel assembled to create the guidelines usually generates 100 or so pages of dense nutrition-speak. This document is translated into a reader friendly brochure aimed at helping the average person choose a balanced and healthy diet. Of far greater importance, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans set the standards for all federal nutrition programs, including the school lunch program, and helps determine what food products Americans buy. In other words, the guidelines influence how billions of dollars are spent each year. So even minor changes can hurt or help a food industry.

According to federal regulations, the panel that writes the dietary guidelines must include nutrition experts who are leaders in pediatrics, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and public health. Selecting the panelists is no easy task, and is subject to intense lobbying from organizations such as the National Dairy Council, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Soft Drink Association, American Meat Institute, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and Wheat Foods Council. (2)
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Link farm policies to nutrition goals

Link farm policies to nutrition goals
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Federal farm programs, on the other hand, aim to maintain the financial health of American agriculture. Subsidies encourage an abundant supply of corn, wheat, rice and soybeans. Much of the corn and soybeans is fed to livestock. Some also is turned into nutrition-poor ingredients in processed food for people. For example, toaster pastries contain partially hydrogenated soybean oil for that flaky texture and high-fructose corn syrup for a sweeter fruit filling. That translates to lots of calories, lots of artery-clogging fat and little or no healthful fiber.

Link farm policies to nutrition goals
As those foods, commonly called “junk food” in the United States, become progressively cheaper, the prices of fruit and vegetables rise, said Adam Drewnowski, professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington.

“If we tell a family, ‘You really ought to be eating more salads and fresh fruit,’ and this is a low-income family, we’re essentially encouraging them to spend more money,” Drewnowski said.

Many groups are pushing to link farm programs, which are due for an overhaul in 2007, more closely to government nutrition goals.

“Here we are as a society, talking constantly about obesity and diets, and yet our farm policies are not structured to encourage the kind of diet that the food pyramid suggests we should adopt,” said Ralph Grossi, president of American Farmland Trust, a group that advocates conservation on the farm.

Here is what the food pyramid says should be eaten for a 2,000-calorie daily diet:

• 3 cups of fat-free or lowfat milk or cheese
• 2½ cups of vegetables
• 2 cups of fruit
• 6 ounces of grains
• 5½ ounces of meat or beans.

The plate would look quite different if it matched farm subsidies. The breakdown of the $17 billion that the Congressional Budge Office says they will cost this year includes:

• $7.3 billion for corn and other feed grains
• $3.5 billion for cotton
• $1.6 billion for soybeans
• $1.5 billion for wheat
• $1.5 billion for tobacco
• $686 million for dairy
• $626 million for rice
• $271 million for peanuts.

The Agriculture Department doesn’t just hand out subsidies to farmers and tell people what they should eat. It operates school lunch and food stamp programs and the special nutrition programs. It also runs the Forest Service and oversees land conservation.

With 100,000 employees and a $95 billion annual budget that includes the farm subsidies, the department has many other objectives, said Keith Collins, the agency’s chief economist.

Farm subsidies are intended to provide some income stability and financial assistance to producers, Collins said, but climate and market prices are much bigger factors when farmers choose what to grow.

He pointed out the government does help fruit and vegetable growers: They have access to federal crop insurance, and the department spends more than $400 million a year buying produce and other commodities for the school lunch program.

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Farm subsidies not in sync with food pyramid

Farm subsidies not in sync with food pyramid
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Two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and the government tells them they should eat better.

But it doesn’t put its money where their mouths are.

The government will spend $17 billion subsidizing farmers this year. Rather than focusing on the producers of good-for-you fruits and vegetables — half its subsidies go to grain farmers, whose crops feed animals for meat, milk and eggs and become cheap ingredients in processed food.

“Obesity. That’s clearly the problem, if you look at the outcome in today’s society,” said Andy Fischer, executive director of the Community Food Security Coalition, a Venice, Calif., advocacy group.

Since two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, it’s clear people are getting the calories they need and more. Diet and disease experts say, however, that they’re not getting enough nutrition.

The Agriculture Department published in April its food pyramid, which tells people how, what and how much to eat, with the aim to improve people’s health. It recommends fewer calories and more fruit, vegetables, lowfat milk and whole grains. It tells people to avoid foods made with partially hydrogenated oils and sweeteners.
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FOLLOWING THE HEALTHY EATING PYRAMID - 5 TIPS

FOLLOWING THE HEALTHY EATING PYRAMID - 5 TIPS

1. Start with exercise. A healthy diet is built on a base of regular exercise, which keeps calories in balance and weight in check. Read five quick tips for staying active and getting to your healthy weight, and a dozen ideas for fitting exercise into your life.

2. Focus on food, not grams. The Healthy Eating Pyramid doesn’t worry about specific servings or grams of food, so neither should you. It’s a simple, general guide to how you should eat when you eat.

3. Go with plants. Eating a plant-based diet is healthiest. Choose plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats, like olive and canola oil. Check out these delicious healthy recipes that bring the Healthy Eating Pyramid into your kitchen.

4. Cut way back on American staples. Red meat, refined grains, potatoes, sugary drinks, and salty snacks are part of American culture, but they’re also really unhealthy. Go for a plant-based diet rich in non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. And if you eat meat, fish and poultry are the best choices.

5. Take a multivitamin, and maybe have a drink. Taking a multivitamin can be a good nutrition insurance policy. Moderate drinking for many people can have real health benefits, but it's not for everyone. Those who don’t drink shouldn’t feel that they need to start. Read about balancing alcohol's risks and benefits.
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