Vegan FoodPyramid

[Amy SF]

You may be familiar with the "old" food pyramid - the one with the animal flesh and dairy products well represented in the pyramid. The original pyramid had carbohydrates and bread products at the bottom, meaning that this was the largest recommended food group for an average diet, and fruit and vegetables next higher in the pyramid.

Here is a different food pyramid - one designed for vegans. As you can see, carbs and produce have switched places.

http://www.veganfoodpyramid.com/

This is a picture of the original USDA food pyramid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USDA_Food_Pyramid.gif

[chiaraluna]

I've always liked that site. Thanks for posting, Amy! :) :up:

[Seb_0810]

Awesome! Looks much healthier than the omni food pyramid.

[Tesseract]

Hmm, so when did the produce and grains trade places? Even the veg*n food pyramids I've downloaded in the last year, including Becoming Vegan's food guide, have the grains at the base with 6-11 servings a day and produce in the second tier.

[jeezycreezy]

Since when is a bowling ball a legume?

And are we allowed to disagree with this thing...or is this thing set in stone?

Cheers!
TJ

[troub]

Since when is a bowling ball a legume?



...now that you mention it.

wow. wtf?

[Amy SF]

It's supposed to be a coconut! :whack:

[chiaraluna]

Hmm, so when did the produce and grains trade places? Even the veg*n food pyramids I've downloaded in the last year, including Becoming Vegan's food guide, have the grains at the base with 6-11 servings a day and produce in the second tier.

Well, since the actual serving amounts are the same, I imagine that they switched them as incentive. If you add up the veggies & fruits and treat them like one big category, you really should eat as much or more of them than grains. People are probably more likely to eat more grains without trying than fruits and veggies, so maybe that sparked the change?

[jeezycreezy]

It's supposed to be a coconut! :whack:

Why would anyone want to bowl with a coconut? That's just crazy.

But seriously. I could draw a better coconut with my feet.

Poor artistry aside, was this thing designed by a dietitian or nutritionist...or what?

I'm just not 100% in agreement with what I see there but as I have no formal training I could be wrong. I don't know. But, I mean, this thing calls itself a Vegan Pyramid when it is, in fact, a Vegan Triangle. So as far as I am concerned it's not to be trusted. :)

Cheers!
TJ

[Tesseract]

Well, since the actual serving amounts are the same, I imagine that they switched them as incentive. If you add up the veggies & fruits and treat them like one big category, you really should eat as much or more of them than grains. People are probably more likely to eat more grains without trying than fruits and veggies, so maybe that sparked the change?
Haha, silly me, I didn't even notice! :o I just assumed that meant they had now changed the recommended number of servings.

PS: TJ, where were you when I was single?? :lovesign:

[purrpelle]

speaking of coconuts, what exactly is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[Tesseract]

^^^ You read my mind! :lol: But is an African or a European swallow?

[Amy SF]

I don't get it. :confused:

[purrpelle]

^^^ You read my mind! :lol: But is an African or a European swallow?

Tim would say he didn't know. :lol:

[purrpelle]

It could grip it by the Husk!

OMG I have to watch that movie now.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[troub]

I like how it includes water.

[troub]

speaking of, have you guys seen the "New Food Pyramid"



http://www.mypyramid.gov/global_nav/media_animation-presentation_eng_pc.html

The thing is remedial... It's just so so stupid.

[Ludi]

Thanks so much for posting this, very helpful! :bobo:

I'm sad to see nuts relegated to the "sweets" category, though.

[Washoe]

But is an African or a European swallow?

Do you really want an answer? (http://www.style.org/unladenswallow/) :D

[veggieeater]

speaking of, have you guys seen the "New Food Pyramid"

http://windowmanager.blogspot.com/foodpyr.JPG

Who eats the 2600 calories that those suggestions are based on? That seems incredibly high to me.

[purrpelle]

Who eats the 2600 calories that those suggestions are based on? That seems incredibly high to me.

I eat 2600 and I weigh 130 lbs. but that's only on a muay thai day. mostly I average about 2200.

[Moechalatte]

I've never seen this pyramid before - very cool! :)

It does seem silly that any nutritional pyramid give a calorie number though ... Why not percentages?

Also, I thought veggie oils and other things like that (to be "used sparingly" according to the vegan pyranid) were very important to have in moderately high amounts - that's really the only fat vegans consume, so shouldn't we be consuming more than one serving a day??

[Tesseract]

I'm sad to see nuts relegated to the "sweets" category, though.
I agree; it's unfortunate that nuts should be in the same category as sweets, which you basically don't need and probably shouldn't be having very often, when studies suggest that a daily serving of nuts is good for you. I think they're mixing up things that are a good idea to eat on a daily or near-daily basis but in small amounts, like vegetable oils and nuts, with things that should be eaten only occasionally, like sweets and salty foods.

[veggieeater]

They are really pushing dairy products too.
Some plant foods have calcium that is well absorbed, but the large quantity of plant foods that would be needed to provide as much calcium as in a glass of milk may be unachievable for many. Many other calcium-fortified foods are available, but the percentage of calcium that can be absorbed is unavailable for many of them.


The meat servings in the sample menu are a lot smaller than I expected and does include a few vegetarian but not vegan meals.

[Ludi]

I was surprised to see the soy "dairy" products being given such predominance. I don't eat them at all (or any soy) because so far I haven't found any I like. Is soy so important? Should I be eating it even though I don't like it?