| What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA | | | | lobbyists finally took notice and heavily attacked the |
| was originally given the conflicting task of educating | | | | plan due for it's misrepresentation on their |
| the public on agricultural matters while simultaneously | | | | products.Complaints were made to the Secretary of |
| working with food producers to provide a reliable and | | | | Agriculture, Edward R. Madigan, that this pyramid |
| consistent food supply. This has, over the course of | | | | would hurt the sales of beef. The National Milk |
| time, led to our ever evolving dietary guidelines, and | | | | Producers Association joined in the fight, and within |
| yet is the purpose of these guidelines for our health | | | | weeks the new Eating Right Pyramid was withdrawn. |
| or to sell more food?Would You Believe There Were | | | | Big food wins again! Secretary Madigan gave as his |
| Once 12 Food Groups?The food guides during the | | | | reason for the withdrawal that the plan was, |
| 1930's were heavily influenced by The Great | | | | "confusing to children."Next came the protests from |
| Depression and at that time included 12 separate | | | | the American Cancer Society, the American Medical |
| groups!In 1956 the USDA produced the "Basic Four" | | | | Association and other health and medical organizations |
| food guide. The Dairy Industry was so enthusiastic | | | | over the withdrawal of the pyramid. In July 1991 a |
| they heavily promoted the plan, and why not; since | | | | private firm was hired, and charged with the task of |
| milk, eggs and butter were suggested as a separate | | | | testing the pyramid on a select group of children and |
| food group, it only made sense that the Dairy | | | | those with minimal education. The resulting $855,000 |
| Industry would be quite pleased.In grade school in the | | | | study determined the plan was indeed sound, and it |
| 1960s we were taught three square meals a day | | | | was again scheduled for release.In April 1992 the |
| were what was best, and any other eating was | | | | Eating Right Pyramid was released, one year late due |
| considered a "snack." What is a snack? Is it extra | | | | to the 33 changes demanded by the meat and dairy |
| food when you're not hungry? Is it something to do | | | | industries, nearly all of which were incorporated into |
| when your bored? Is it a social activity (standing | | | | the design.Keep in mind that the dietary guidelines are |
| around a table laden with food at a party)?And just | | | | a product of the food manufacturers greater needs |
| what was a square meal? It was based on the "Basic | | | | (selling more product) with a rough balance of the |
| Four Food Groups" as they were defined at that | | | | health industry's attempt to influence public |
| time:1. Milk | | | | opinion.The Eating Right Pyramid Attacked by Atkins |
| 2. Meat | | | | Diet and Other Low Carb DietsToday, in the early |
| 3. Fruit & Vegetables | | | | 2000s, we are again revising the USDA's |
| 4. GrainsFour groups, four sides, four square! Neat. | | | | recommendations. Formerly heavily leaning toward |
| Easy. People could "get" this, and that was the point. | | | | the consumption of breads and cereals (it never |
| Make it easy enough for the average person to | | | | made a point of being specific about grains, but it |
| understand.In the 1970's research began making a | | | | make sense. The food industry is interested in selling |
| case that the over consumption of certain foods | | | | processed grains, not whole grains), it appears we'll |
| such as fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, | | | | soon move back to the plan of the early 1930s which |
| increased chances for heart disease and diabetes and | | | | emphases meat and dairy, or maybe not. Only time |
| thereby caused the USDA to attempt to further | | | | will tell who will win the fight this time around. And |
| modify their guidelines.This was met with scorn, | | | | the cycle continues. What's up next for our dietary |
| ridicule and very heavy resistance from the meat and | | | | guidelines is anyone's guess, which is why I suggest |
| dairy industries. They fought tooth-and-nail to keep | | | | the common sense diet.Eat good food and more of |
| the guidelines as they were, but to no avail. | | | | it. End of story.~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP |
| Eventually we ended up with the Food Pyramid.Big | | | | Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of the free |
| Foods Wins AgainIn 1988 and 1989, the USDA | | | | e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to |
| produced the Eating Right Pyramid, emphasizing grains | | | | Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of |
| and other plant foods, and de-emphasizing animal | | | | OneMoreBite-Weightloss.comGet The Daily Bites: |
| products. It was set for approval in 1991. Just prior | | | | Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for |
| to it's scheduled release the meat, dairy, and egg | | | | Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss. |