People are confused about what to eat and how much. The government releases documents that are supposed to promote healthy eating habits but why is America still fat?

In Canada a revised Food Guide is set to be released in 2007 but critics are already scrutinizing the document saying it doesn’t reflect the lifestyle changes and the way people really do eat.  According to the Digital Journal, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, a medical director said: "Eating according to the food guide would provide far more calories than the average Canadian would need, and as a consequence, anybody following the food guide almost certainly will likely gain weight.”

The American Food Pyramid really isn’t any better. For one thing, it’s evident that a lot of the recommendations weigh heavily on the marketing of certain food groups and there is definitely a hidden agenda that goes beyond simply helping to improve the dietary habits of the American population.

For starters, it recommends 3 cups of milk and milk products. For many individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance this is simply unrealistic. It also doesn’t state that the milk should be low-fat or light which is essential for those trying to watch their weight as milk products can be fattening.

Carbohydrates are also lumped as one big category. There is no classification between complex and simple carbs nor do they suggest substituting whole grains for white flour or brown rice for white.  

The guide barely even mentions the need to watch your portion sizes or that different people need varying portion sizes. I do appreciate the fact that they pyramid now allows you to input your age, gender and activity level to create a more personalized food plan but I feel the numbers are still incredibly generalized and doesn’t really take into account the cultural differences and dietary restrictions that many Americans have.

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