USDA Announces MyPyramid, "Steps to a Healthier You," an updated symbol and interactive Food Guidance System

At a press conference this morning, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns unveiled MyPyramid, "Steps to a Healthier You,"  the new Food Guidance System designed to help Americans live longer and more healthful lives.  The new guide retains the familiar pyramid shape but now showcases physical activity with the addition of a person walking up stairs on the side of the pyramid. 

The Food Guide is a comprehensive educational tool that has been under extensive review, including technical analysis, consumer research and professional/public comment. Bringing to life the recently released 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, MyPyramid features:

• Personalization. A new Web site, http://www.mypyramid.gov/, unveiled in conjunction with the guide provides a web-based interactive tool for personalized recommendations, sample menus and other tips.
• Gradual improvements. The updated guide emphasizes “Steps to a Healthier You,” taking small steps each day to improve diet and lifestyle.  
• Physical activity. For the first time ever, the food guide addresses the importance of finding balance between food and physical activity, depicting a person climbing steps up the side of the pyramid.
• Variety. On the new guide, color bands represent the five food groups plus oils – showing foods from all groups are needed for good health.
• Moderation. The pyramid’s color bands narrow from bottom to top, with the emphasis on choosing the most nutrient dense foods at the base.
• Proportionality. The widths of each color band suggest how much food a person should choose from that group. The widths are just a general guide, not exact proportions. Consumers are encouraged to visit the MyPyramid Web site for more details.

MyPyramid reinforces making smarter choices from each food group, emphasizing choosing nutrient-dense foods first. The graphic revealed today doesn’t include pictures of the foods in each food group, however, posters for health professionals and schools do show sample foods at the bottom.

The new Web site, http://www.mypyramid.gov/, offers interactive activities that make it easy for individuals to design their own optimal dietary plan based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  Other interactive features include diet quality assessment tools, detailed information on foods and portion sizes within each food group, and tips and resources providing suggestions on all food groups and physical activity.  Components focused on special populations, such as young children, will be unveiled in coming months.

To access the Web site, go to http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Order FREE MyPyramid materials now

Since 1992, the beef industry has distributed more than 15 million copies of the Food Guide Pyramid to health professionals and school teachers.  To continue this tradition, we are in the process of printing new posters and 100-sheet tear pads of the new MyPyramid symbol and related information.

To order one free tear pad and poster, please give us your name, UPS delivery address, and phone number.  Your materials will be shipped as soon as possible.  E-mail mailto:beefnutrition@beef.org?subject=FREE MyPyramid Poster and Tear Pad.

NEWSLETTER TOOLS

      Funded by Cattlemen's Beef Board         Managed by National Cattlemen's Beef Association