Reviewing the food pyramid

Building The Pyramid

More news from the pyramid reconstruction project.

The pyramid in question, of course, is the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, which is undergoing its required five-year review and revision.

Last week, in the e-Alert “Sugar Coating It” (9/2/04), I told you about the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) concerning intake of foods with added sugars.

This week it’s grains.

In the past, the DGAC has been transparently influenced by two powerful food lobbies: sugar and grains. But as people become more savvy about what constitutes good nutrition, the DGAC is forced to perform an almost comical balancing act, trying to create something close to “realistic” nutrition recommendations, while kowtowing to these hugely influential, deep-pocket special interest groups.

The new DGAC recommendations state that more whole grains should be eaten in order to increase fiber intake. Okay – so far we’re with them all the way. Whole grains are very important for promoting heart health, among other things. But you know the grain issue can’t end there.

Eric Hentges – the executive director of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, told The Associated Press (AP) that it’s important to get a “balance of enriched grains and whole grains.” Ah, there it is! And the good folks over at the grain lobby must be congratulating each other on another job well done.

“Enriched grains” is another way of saying “grain products that have been so thoroughly processed that they need to be ‘enriched’ in order to have any nutrients at all.”

Mr. Hentges also unveiled a startling new concept that appears in the DGAC recommendations: discretionary calories. Here’s the idea: After you’ve eaten the foods that deliver the required amounts of nutrients, if you haven’t overeaten and you’re not overweight or obese, then you may have a reward: discretionary calories. In other words: calories you can go nuts with – ice cream, cheese dip, KitKats, whatever!

Here’s how the AP puts it: “Discretionary calories could be considered treats calories, because they don’t have to be from nutrient-rich foods.”

“Treats” calories! You’ve got to love it. It’s a “nutrition” concept that only the USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee could have dreamed up. (With a little help from their pals at the sugar lobby, no doubt.)

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:
“Panel Issues Final Recommendations for Food Pyramid” The Associated Press, 8/27/04, cnn.com