[leighann79]

I'm wanting to have my kids keep track of their daily intake of food so they can get an idea of how much of each type they are eating compared to what they should. I can print off (or just get info from) the food pyramid, but that's not what we are doing anymore, yk?<br>
So, I thought I would come to you ladies and see if you could help me out. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/innocent.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shy"><br>
What would the Traditional Foods/Nurishing Traditions/etc. Food Pyramid be like?<br><br>
TIA! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[NaturalFamiLEA]

This is probably pretty close <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br><br><a href="http://www.honestfoodguide.org/" target="_blank">http://www.honestfoodguide.org/</a>

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

That one lists dairy and red meat on the bad side.<br>
My guess is you'll have to make your own. That actually sounds like fun. You could have the kids list specific foods that are their favorites in each category so that it becomes more personal. They could cut out pictures or draw them. Also, you could set it up as a checklist that they could go through each day. Sounds like something we all should do! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[ConsCathMamma]

Um, I think maybe you posted in the wrong forum<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="innocent"> . I was so excited to see what might be one, and then it had Animal Fats at the top of the "bad" stuff!<br><br>
I think that the pyramid thing is confusing. The food pyramid, while not great, isn't completely off. Even though I use FULL fats including animal fats regularly, I am still not eating as much in quantity as I am other stuff, yk? I probably eat the same amount of dairy as rec'd, I'm just eating full-fat, raw dairy instead of low-fat, conventional.<br><br>
I think maybe the biggest change would be grains and cereals at the base of the pyramid. I can't imagine that I eat 6-11 servings of grains a day anymore even though I usually have them for breakfast and sometimes brown rice is the foundation of a meal. Idk, I guess I haven't really examined what constitutes a serving, either. Maybe my bowl of oatmeal is several servings as well as the amount of brown rice, etc... Plus, imo, one can have a very healthy diet avoiding grains altogether.<br><br>
I just don't think that the pyramid is a very good format. Things I would consider a "foundation" to a good diet (to me, the base of a pyramid) aren't necessarily consumed in the greatest quantity.

 

[tboroson]

I think another point about the pyramid idea is that, visually, it was intended to indicate how much of something you need in a diet. I think some things, like animal fats, are greatly needed - but not necessarily in great quantity. So, do you place them low in the pyramid to indicate their importance, or higher up to indicate the amount you need? Not to mention, the fact that many people do well with huge amounts of animal foods and others with only a little. Likewise, some people seem to thrive on tons of fruit, others can't manage that much sugar. And a single person's needs can vary over a fairly short course of time. I know when I stopped being veg, I needed a *ton* of meat. Now I'm satisfied on a much smaller amount, even though I enjoy eating more if I have the opportunity. I'm currently doing the 30 day raw challenge and eating very little meat and not feeling I'm suffering for it, nor craving it (except when I took that roasted chicken out of the oven for the rest of the family the other night and smelled it - *drool*). But I don't doubt I'll go back to eating meat more regularly when the challenge is over. So, where would we put that in the pyramid? How about milk? I don't think any of us *need* milk, though it's a good replacement for meat for those who choose not to eat meat. Culturally, though, it's a valuable food and most of us who can tolerate it aren't willing to give it up. So, do we value it as highly as meat in the pyramid?<br><br>
OTOH, I do like the imagery of the pyramid, with the idea that food are our building blocks, and some make up the basis of our diet. I would totally put vegetables and fruits at the base. But unlike the FDA, I would divy up vegetables into leafy greens, starchy vegetables, fruit "vegetables" and fruity-fruits. I do think that they're all valuable, but not completely interchangeable. I don't think you can make an entire diet of apples and potatoes and call it healthful, although both can certainly be components of a healthful diet.

 

[leighann79]

You all have great points. My main goal is to help the kids see if they are eating a "balanced" diet or if they are focusing on one or two areas more than the rest. I just wasn't sure if I could use the regular pyramid as a good gage. The new one has the groups running up the pyramid instead of the block format of before, BTW.<br><br>
Ok, so the fruits and veggies would be about the same. I can talk to them about needing to eat the "rainbow" though. Would the dairy and meats be the same? Just raw dairy (mostly) and grass-fed meats? What about the grains? Should I include something about fermented stuff on there? What about fats? It says "sparingly" on the present one. (ok I was wrong. On the kids one it says "know your limits" for sweets and fats) <a href="http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/mpk_poster.pdf" target="_blank">http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/mpk_poster.pdf</a><br>
It does have oil info I would change though. And it says to focus on lean meats.<br><br>
Ok.<br><br>
Fruits and Veggies--same, talk up the "rainbow" eating<br>
Dairy--same amt, but raw and full fat<br>
Meat--same amt, not focused on lean<br>
Grains-- ???<br>
Grains seem to be the big question. They say "half from whole grains". What is the TF/NT stance on that? (I'm working on getting my book, BTW)<br>
Fats/Sweets--They say "know your limits". Sounds like good advice to me! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Any more thoughts?<br><br>
(sorry about the jumble of a post. I was thinking things through as I posted it. LOL)

 

[snowbunny]

I seem to recall reading in NT, or maybe somewhere else, that there was a call to go back to the basic four food groups: meat, whole grains and legumes, fruits and vegetables, and dairy. So that it wasn't a pyramid at all; rather, it was a square.

 

[leighann79]

I found a couple of things.<br><br><a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/federalupdate/testimony/fda_oral_pres_04.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.westonaprice.org/federalu...al_pres_04.pdf</a><br><br>
and this<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>gardenmommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/4567346"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">NT food pyramid:<br><br>
1. Lots of fresh, local, organic produce (greens, veggies, fruit, etc.)<br><br>
2. Lots of fermented veggies<br><br>
2. Moderate amounts of local, organic, grass-fed meats (beef, poultry, etc.)<br><br>
3. Moderate amounts of local, organic, grass-fed, raw dairy (yogurt, kefir, cheeses, etc.)<br><br>
4. Moderate amounts of raw, unheated oils (butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc.)<br><br>
5. Moderate to small amounts of soaked/sprouted grains and flours.<br><br>
6. Small amounts of raw, unheated sweeteners (local honey, maple syrup, etc.)<br><br>
7. If you must, very small amounts of "junk food".<br><br>
Just a thought!</div>
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[quietserena]

I'd really thought about this for a while and from what I can tell the leafy vegetables really need to be the pyramid 'base'. Overall people tend to feel better when eating plenty of these and there's always some leafy vegetable in season, yknow?

 

[NaturalFamiLEA]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Pinky Tuscadero</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7956176"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">That one lists dairy and red meat on the bad side.</div>
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Good point <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[hethir]

Ok you all inspired me so I made one. You can find it <a href="http://www.natural-fertility-info.com/food-pyramid.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Let me know what you think.

 

[gardenmommy]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>hethir</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8001897"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Ok you all inspired me so I made one. You can find it <a href="http://www.natural-fertility-info.com/food-pyramid.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Let me know what you think.</div>
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Very interesting. I like the way it is laid out. It still looks like a building-block type thing, but is more balanced than the FDA one, IMO.

 

[Tcarwyn]

In Holland where I grew up, the food "pyramid" was a circle...you can find an example here:<a href="http://www.voedingscentrum.nl/voedingscentrum/Public/Dynamisch/hoe+eet+ik+gezond" target="_blank">http://www.voedingscentrum.nl/voedin...+eet+ik+gezond</a><br><br>
It looks pretty good to me, except that the grain/bean/potato part seeems too big....<br><br><br>
Tanya

 

[leighann79]

I like it! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> That is something easy to show to my kids. Thanks!

 

[Tcarwyn]

Yeah, and if you're lucky enough to not read Dutch, you will be able to avoid the "limited saturated fat" part <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
Tanya

 

[NaturalFamiLEA]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>hethir</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8001897"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Ok you all inspired me so I made one. You can find it <a href="http://www.natural-fertility-info.com/food-pyramid.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Let me know what you think.</div>
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Very good! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[hethir]

I had to use triangels, that is all my photo builder program has, I would like a new revolutionary shape, maybe a heart or a circle.

 

[leighann79]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>hethir</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8001897"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Ok you all inspired me so I made one. You can find it <a href="http://www.natural-fertility-info.com/food-pyramid.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Let me know what you think.</div>
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</tr></table></div>
Very nice! You ladies always impress me with the info you can come through with. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[Feb2003]

hethir, I really like the one you made! thank you for sharing!! re: the shape -what about a body? ie the building blocks of a healthy body (of course, I have no idea how you would do it on the computer...)