- Inclusion of a new symbol—a person on the stairs—representing physical activity.
- Measuring quantities in cups and ounces instead of servings.
Mypyramid contains eight divisions. From left to right on the pyramid are a person and six food groups:
Physical activity, represented by a person climbing steps on the pyramid, to illustrate moderate physical activity every day, in addition to usual activity. The key recommendations for 2005 (other specific recommendations are provided for children and adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, for older adults and for weight maintenance) are:
· Engage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight. (At least 30 minutes on most, and if possible, every day for adults and at least 60 minutes each day for children and teenagers, and for most people increasing to more vigorous-intensity or a longer duration will bring greater benefits.)
· Achieve physical fitness by including cardiovascular conditioning, stretching exercises for flexibility, and resistance exercises or calisthenics for muscle strength and endurance.
- Grains, recommending that at least half of grains consumed be as whole grains
- Vegetables, emphasizing dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, and dry beans and peas
- Fruits, emphasizing variety and deemphasizing fruit juices
- Oils, recommending fish, nut, and vegetables sources
- Milk, a category that includes fluid milk and many other milk-based products
- Meat and beans, emphasizing low-fat and lean meats such as fish as well as more beans, peas, nuts, and seeds
There is one other category:
- Discretionary calories, represented by the narrow tip of each colored band, including items such as candy, alcohol, or additional food from any other group.
To visit MyPyramid click on the following link, “
Take me to MyPyramid”. Please note by clicking on this link you are leaving the County of Riverside site.