A recent analysis by the USDA on what American’s are eating showed that on the whole, we are consuming more meat and grains than the dietary guidelines in MyPyramid suggest, and less vegetables, fruit and dairy.  It doesn’t take a scientist to figure that out that there are problems with the Standard American Diet.  We can see that diet and health are directly correlated, as rates in chronic health issues like obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer continue to rise and the food American eat gets worse.

The Integrative Nutrition Food Pyramid, adapted from the USDA Pyramid, emphasizes the importance of high-quality vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and water.  And to complete the picture, the pyramid is surrounded with lifestyle factors, considered primary food, that create optimal health:  relationship, career, physical activity and spirituality.

Integrative Nutrition’s Food Pyramid encourages people to look at these aspects of life as a form of nutrition a way to feed themselves at a much deeper level than food.  The food you eat plays a critical role in your health and happiness, and discovering the right foods for you is very important.  But the four forms of primary food truly nourish you and make your life extraordinary. 

What changes would you make to the USDA’s dietary guidelines in MYPyramid?