In 2010, first lady Michelle Obama began the "Let's Move!" campaign to combat childhood obesity. The campaign was designed to reverse the trend of excess weight that affects two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in the United States. A basic component of maintaining a healthy weight is not fad diets, but a healthy overall eating plan. Balanced diet food groups vary for different ethnic backgrounds and also for individuals with specific dietary needs.
General Diet Healthy Food Groups
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the standard food groups are: grains; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; meats, poultry and fish; and seeds, nuts and legumes. Most food pyramids emphasize eating fresh fruits and vegetables and caution against too much red meat. Most diet food groups also recommend limiting sugars and desserts along with oils and fats, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Variations in food groups occur among different pyramids. The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, food pyramid includes meat and beans in a single food group. The Harvard School of Public Health food pyramid separates red meat from fish and poultry because of its high fat content. The Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight pyramid groups meats and dairy products together in a single category.
Ethnic Diet Food Groups
The food groups for various ethnic diets reflect the staple foods that are available, according to the Mayo clinic. For example, rice is included among the grains at the base of the Asian diet pyramid. Other food groups in the Asian diet pyramid include fruits, legumes and seeds. Vegetable oils have their own group. Eggs and poultry also have their own group, while fish and dairy are grouped together. Sweets and red meat are at the top of the pyramid, reflecting their relatively rare occurrence in the Asian diet.
The Latin diet pyramid groups vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds and beans in a single group at the base. Fish and seafood are grouped together, and poultry, eggs and dairy products comprise a separate group. Meats and sweets are grouped together at the top of the pyramid, similarly to the Asian diet.
Vegetarian Diet Food Groups
The vegetarian diet has unique food group divisions, according to the Mayo Clinic. Grains occupy the base of the pyramid, with protein-rich legumes and nuts occupying the next level. Vegetables occupy another level, then fruits. At the top are fats, reflecting the recommendation that vegetarians, like others, should limit their intake.
Diabetes Diet Food Groups
The American Diabetes Association has developed its own food pyramid, with food groups based on its recommendations for how much of each food group diabetics should include in their diets. The six food groups in the ADA food pyramid are: beans, starches and grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat and proteins, and fats, sweets and oils. It should come as no surprise that the ADA recommends limiting sweets in the diet, as well as alcohol.
References
- Harvard School of Public Health: Food Pyramids--What Should You Really Eat?
- United States Department of Agriculture: Inside the Pyramid
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: What Are the Basic Food Groups?
- Mayo Clinic; Food Pyramids--Explore These Healthy Diet Options
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Food Pyramid
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