"Two servings of shrimp scampi per year is absolutely essential, and it is preferable that one be a microwaveable meal from the Contessa frozen-foods line, and the other be eaten at a fancy restaurant, like the Lobster Tail off Route 22, on a nice summer evening with the woman you love," acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner said.

The Fall Of The Original USDA Food Guide Pyramid

The FDA's food pyramid has helped people from all walks of life decide what to eat every day. Now, however, there is a new walk of life, or I should say unlife, that will benefit from the pyramid.

A healthy eating plan can be illustrated in many ways, but it's often found in the shape of a pyramid.

It seems that there is going to be a food pyramid for older adults. "The Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults still emphasizes nutrient-dense foods and the importance of fluid balance but now provides more guidance about the types of foods that best meet the unique needs of older adults and places added emphasis on physical activity."

The serving size of a food product is a confusing term, as it is found both on the Food Pyramid and on Nutrition Labels and has two related but differing meanings. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion sets the standards for these meanings in the United States. Food PyramidThe purpose of The Food Pyramid is to assist people in meeting daily nutrient recommendations while providing relatively few serving sizes for each food group.According to the USDA, serving sizes in the Pyramid are determined through four factors:The considering of typical portion sizes from food consumption surveys.Convenience in relation to common measuring sizes.Nutrient content.Sizes from previous guides.Some food groups receive different emphasis than others. See Food Pyramid for recommended daily servings. Nutrition Facts LabelNutrition Facts Label Serving Sizes are specific in their nutritional information to allow for easy comparison with other similar foods. Consumers may visualize important nutritional variations without excessive calculation. While designed for easy comparison with other similar products, such as Coke vs. Diet Coke or Fruit Loops vs. Frosted Flakes, the label is not meant for direct comparison with the Food Pyramid's recommended servings.Serving sizes on Nutrition Facts Labels are loosely based on the amount of a product normally eaten in one sitting , or reference amounts, determined from nationwide food consumption surveys. The variation in caloric content per serving from product to product is normally because of the reference amount, not because of any set value or common unit.Reference amounts affect serving sizes in one of three ways:Bulk products, such as sugar, have sizes in common units of measurement, such as the cup or tablespoon, to show the quantity closest to the reference amount.Commonly divided products, such as pie or cake, have a serving size given in a fraction of the whole product (e.g. 1/8 pizza).Products which are sliced beforehand or are bought in distinct, grouped units (such as olives), are listed in the approximate number of units corresponding to the reference amount. For example, if the reference amount for olives were 30 g, and one olive weighed 10 g, the serving size would probably be listed as three olives.