Lying parents

I think the best punishment for said parent would be for them to admit to their children that they are, in actual fact, wrong.

Yes, we’re all familiar with the food pyramid, and most of us remember the “eat most, eat some, eat a little” diagram. However, after years of this food pyramid being drummed into our brains, nutritionists actually revisited it, and redrafted it to be slightly more accurate.The new pyramid has us eating plant oils (ie: canola, sunflower, olive, soy, corn, and peanut oils) at most meals, whereas the old pyramid had us eating them only “sparingly”. We have also learned that we should eat lean red meat sparingly, and while wholegrains are encouraged at every meal, foods such as white bread, pasta, potatoes and white rice are in the “use sparingly” category with the sweets.

So what does this new food pyramid have to say about fruit and veges? It recommends we eat 2-3 servings of fruit, and “vegetables in abundance”- so pretty much, it’s open season on the veges front. With serving sizes, it varies to do with age and size. I have always been taught that a serving is what fits into a cupped hand, so a stick of celery, a mandarin orange, a kiwifruit… whatever. Another way to get these servings into kids is to offer them dried alternatives, such as a box of raisins or a couple of dried apricots with a glass of water.

Yes, it’s important to let children know the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, and as much as we should encourage them to eat as many servings of them as possible (ie, substituting an apple in place of a piece of cake), we shouldn’t dictate exactly how much of them they should eat. It’s there as a guideline more than a set rule.

A copy of the revised food pyramid can be viewed here: http://www.wiman.us/new-pyramid393.jpg

that’s odd, I did GCSE food technology and the pyramid is not what we learnt. similar, but not the same. maybe it varies on the country/goverments.

this is what I learnt we should have per day…I’m in england:

5 fruit OR veg’ per day. 4 carb’s…such as bread, cereals, nuts. 3 diary…such as milk, cheese. 2 proteins…such as meat, eggs, fish. 1 fats, sugars, sweets.

although since then 3 wholegrains and 2 oily fish a day have been added to that list.

oh please, parents are required to lie to their kids also, what kid on earth is going to take the “food pyramid recommendation” seriously? you’re the parent!

BECAUSE I SAID SO! should be good enough for your kid!

stop fretting so much, kids sense insecurities!

your word is law, whether you follow your word or not! (do what I say not what I do)

you have their best interests at heart! whether they like it or not!

stop second guessing yourself!

Just checked it…fruits 2-4 veggies 3-5 So mom was just about right on. Sue…good luck