If you're looking for one resource for guidance on how to manage your weight, reduce your cholesterol and help you keep track of what you're eating, then the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) Food Pyramid is the only resource you'll need. The U.S.D.A. has had some form of pyramid around since the turn of the century. The current one was released in 2005 and is due to be updated in 2010.
Pyramid Basics
The U.S.D.A. Food Pyramid is a wonderful source for everything you need to know about eating a balanced diet, helping to prevent heart disease and how to begin and maintain an exercise program. The My Pyramid Basics area takes you inside the pyramid and shows you the basic structure of the pyramid. The section titled "Inside the Pyramid" shows you how all foods can be broken down into six basic groups and suggests how to use them. The Tips and Resources section take that knowledge and show you how to apply it to real-life situations. The Printed Materials is loaded with posters, brochures and other types of educational material that you can print and post for reference. Finally, the "Got a Question" area looks at some of the most frequently asked questions people like yourself have about nutrition.
Interactive Tools
The Interactive Tools section of the Pyramid has a number of useful tools you can use to apply the concepts of the Pyramid to your real life. For instance, the My Pyramid Plan has an interactive tool where you can enter your age, sex, height, weight, gender and physical activity and it will map out a general food plan for you with specific recommendations. The area also has a menu planner and trackers to help you keep track of your food intake and physical activity, two areas that go hand in hand when it comes to managing your health. Coming in 2010, the Pyramid will offer a Child Cost Calculator to help you budget the costs of raising your little ones.
Multimedia
The Multimedia section of the Pyramid contains a number of podcast and PDFs you can use to catch up on all of the latest news and information about heart disease, diet and physical activity. Podcasts are great to listen to using your smartphone on the way to work. If you'd rather get the same information in text form, you can print the PDFs on the same subjects. There are also a series of public service announcements in the multimedia area if you're in charge of getting the word out to your group about taking charge of your healthy lifestyle.
Specific Audiences
If you teach children, there's no better time than the present to begin teaching them about heart healthy concepts--concepts they can use for the rest of their lives and take home to their families. There are programs designed for preschoolers (2 to 5 years old) and kids from 6 to 11. There's also an area that focuses on breastfeeding nutrition and pregnancy. Tips for the general population are also included in this area.
Professional Use
Healthcare professionals, dietitians and volunteers who are in charge of disseminating nutritional information to groups of all ages will love the professionally prepared material ready for distribution to their groups. You can download Powerpoint presentations and PDFs directly from the site on the Pyramid concerning the key concepts of the Pyramid system, intake calorie levels, sample menus and ways to getting started to a healthier you.
Other Links
At the bottom of the Pyramid page, you'll find a variety of online links to useful resources like a list of farmer's markets in your area, dietary guidelines, nutrition fact labels and food safety information. There are also a number of links to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute websites that deal specifically with high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes, anemia and neural tube defects.
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