Release of the Updated Food Guidance System: MyPyramid

by Charlene Schuster, Executive Director, Montana Beef Council

The recently released food guidance system titled MyPyramid delivers a core message to help Americans keep smart nutrition simple: enjoy foods that are rich in essential nutrients first from all five food groups.

There are five food groups for a reason – no single food or food group can provide all the nutrients you need each day. MyPyramid can be an important tool to help Americans choose wisely and select more nutrient-rich foods to lead healthier, more active lifestyles.

Given the current obesity epidemic, we know Americans haven’t been following tools like the previous Food Guide and they’re struggling to find simple nutrition advice that makes sense. The good news is that MyPyramid stresses the basics for good health, which means that beef easily fits into a healthy diet. It’s not about diets or unrealistic recommendations.

Lean beef is a premier, naturally nutrient-rich food that provides more than nine essential nutrients. A 3-ounce serving of lean beef is an excellent source of five nutrients (protein, zinc, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus), and a good source of four nutrients (niacin, vitamin B6, iron and riboflavin) – while contributing less than 10 percent of calories to a 2,000 calorie diet. Beef’s
combination of nutrients can play a powerful role in many issues facing
Americans today – from fueling physical activity and helping manage weight, to developing cognitive skills and aging vibrantly.

Lean beef can easily fit within guidelines for a healthy diet that is low in
saturated fat. Beef is 20 percent leaner than USDA indicated just 14 years ago, and there are at least 19 beef cuts, including favorites like sirloin, tenderloin and flank steak, that meet government guidelines for lean.

We need to look at MyPyramid as much more than a motivating graphic – it’s a teachable tool that must be supported by a massive, integrated education program to show Americans how to lead healthier lifestyles and individualize MyPyramid messages for their lives.

Beef: Questions & Answers is a joint project between MSU Extension and the Montana Beef Council. This column informs producers about current consumer education, promotion and research projects funded through the $1 per head checkoff. For more information, contact the Montana Beef Council at (406) 442-5111 or at beefcncl@mt.net

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 08/29/2006