MyPyramid

Problem:
Many people have heard of the Food Guide Pyramid. But, people still aren’t eating as healthy as they should. Every five years the government convenes a group of experts to review what is known about health and nutrition. This information is reflected in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. They found that the American diet was lacking in several nutrients: calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium, Vitamins A, C and E. For example, in Linn County 47% of individuals are meeting the RDA for Calcium and only 47.2% of the RDA for magnesium.

The Dietary Guidelines are designed to help Americans choose diets that will meet nutrient requirements while promoting health and active lives. The Food Guide Pyramid is a graphic to help consumers use the principles defined in the Dietary Guidelines. This spring, the Food Guide Pyramid received a “make-over” to MyPyramid to help healthy people make healthful food choices. MyPyramid promotes an individualized pattern of eating to promote good health.

Response:
People are very interested in MyPryamid. This quarter we have spent a lot of time remodeling materials used to teach MyPryamid. Our EFNEP unit was asked to pilot the new ISU EFNEP MyPryamid lesson for individuals and group. This was then shared at our quarterly meeting with Clinton, Scott, Johnson and Linn Counties. Lynne Rechterman and I also attended the state training for EFNEP youth assistants regarding how to teach MyPyramid to youth. With the help of Connie Benesh in our office, many of our handouts have been updated.

Many groups wanted to learn about the updated pyramid. Child care workers, young parents, home health workers, school teachers, extension staff, extension councils, etc. were asking for information and presentations. The ISUE state fair booth introduced the public to MyPyramid which I worked one afternoon. All my media interviews on WMT and KMAQ radio revolved around how to use MyPyramid to increase healthy eating. The Neighborhood Partner newsletter, Nutrition newsletter for school personnel, and Watts Current utility newsletter included information about MyPyramid.

Impact:
For the 3 months of July, August and September, I have reached 156 consumers in meeting presentations. I had 120 air time minutes that included information about MyPryamid that reached over 6000 households. Newsletters were distributed to 12,105 households, each month.

Contact:
Susan Uthoff
Nutrition and Health Field Specialist
3279 7th Ave Suite 140
Marion IA 52302-7849
319-377-9839
Fax 319-377-0475
Email x1uthoff@iastate.edu