The Department of Agriculture unveiled a new dietary pyramid on April 19, using colored bands of different width to show suggested proportions of different food groups. There also is an added staircase to emphasize the need to exercise. Unlike the old food pyramid, introduced in 1992, there are no specific messages about the amount of servings recommended for each food group. People looking for advice on food variety and portion control are directed to search on the Web for recommendations within each of the 12 eating plans based on age, gender, and exercise levels: http://www.mypyramid.com.
For example, a 35-year-old woman who gets less than 30 minutes of exercise a day should consume 1800 calories a day, which could include 11/2 cups of fruits, 21/2 cups of vegetables, 6 oz of grains, 5 oz of meat and beans, 3 cups of dairy products, and 5 teaspoons of oil.
An active 25-year-old man who gets more than 60 minutes of exercise a day should consume 3000 calories, which could include 21/2 cups of fruits, 4 cups of vegetables, 10 oz of grains, 7 oz of meat and beans, 3 cups of dairy products, and 10 teaspoons of oil.
Reactions to the new pyramid approach have been mixed. Missing from the new pyramid are recommendations that were in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines such as keeping trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible, consuming less than 2300 milligrams of sodium per day, and choosing and preparing foods and beverages with little added sugars or caloric sweeteners to cut sugar from the diet.
The challenge for us cardiovascular nurses will be to help people interpret the meaning of the new pyramid and translate it into meaningful actions to decrease the risks of cardiovascular disease. Visit the new website for resources and information for healthcare professionals for use in developing educational materials and to assist in understanding the new pyramid at http://www.mypyramid.com.
Section Description
The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing is the official journal of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. PCNA is the leading nursing organization dedicated to preventing cardiovascular disease through assessing risk, facilitating lifestyle changes, and guiding individuals to achieve treatment goals.