View the Health Heart Book

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer
Connect with others who've been there. Share stories. Learn. Join Mayo Clinic's
online community.

continued:

Pyramid or plate? Explore these healthy diet options

Variations among healthy diet plans

Most healthy diets are built on the same general principles, but there are key differences that reflect dietary preferences, food availability and cultural eating patterns. For example, the Latin American Diet Pyramid might mention tortillas and cornmeal, whereas the Asian Diet Pyramid might include noodles and rice.

Other differences include:

  • Food groups. The food groups among healthy-diet plans vary somewhat. For example, some versions have plant-based proteins — soybeans, beans and nuts — in a separate group from animal proteins found in meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. This is because animal proteins are often higher in fat and cholesterol, and some diets limit or exclude animal proteins.
  • Serving recommendations. Healthy-eating plans also vary in the recommended servings of each food group. The Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, for example, recommends a daily number of servings from each food group. Other plans offer more-general guidelines, such as eating particular foods at every meal, or on a weekly or monthly basis. For example, the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid recommends that you eat whole grains, vegetables and fruits at every meal.

Putting the pyramid — or plate — to work for you

To see how your eating habits match up to these healthy-diet plans, keep a food diary for several days. Then compare how much of your diet comes from the various groups. You may be surprised by the results. To eat healthier, start with gradual changes, such as eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and limiting fats and sweets.

Here are a few more tips to help you adopt healthier eating habits:

  • Choose a variety of foods. This ensures that you get all of the calories, protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber you need. Choosing a wide range of foods also helps make your meals and snacks more interesting.
  • Adapt the plan to your preferences. For example, a serving of grains doesn't only mean a slice of bread. It can be wild rice, whole-wheat pasta, grits, bulgur, cornmeal muffins or even popcorn. If you need to avoid milk because of lactose intolerance, try yogurt (lower in lactose) or fortified soy milk instead.
  • Combine foods any way you like. For example, you might make a meal of tortillas (grain group) and beans (meat and beans group). Or you could top your fish with fruit salsa or serve steamed vegetables over pasta. The possibilities are virtually endless.

Remember to be creative and go for good taste. A variety of healthy-eating plans are available, so why not try a few on for size? You can explore the world's cuisines and improve your diet at the same time.

Previous page
(2 of 2)
References
  1. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm. Accessed May 31, 2011.
  2. My Plate. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/index.html. Accessed June 2, 2011.
  3. Traditional diets and Oldways' four pyramids. Oldways Preservation Trust. http://www.oldwayspt.org/eating-well/introduction-traditional-diet-pyramids Accessed May 31, 2011.
  4. Messina V, et al. Food guide for vegetarians. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2003;103:771.
  5. Hensrud DD, et al. The Mayo Clinic Diet. Intercourse, Pa.: Good Books; 2010.
  6. Getting started with MyPlate. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/MyPlate/GettingStartedWithMyPlate.pdf. Accessed June 2, 2011.
  7. Nelson JK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 2, 2011.
  8. Choose MyPlate: 10 tips. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet1ChooseMyPlate.pdf. Accessed June 2, 2011.
  9. Food groups. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/foodgroups/index.html. Accessed June 2, 2011.
  10. The Oldways' Mediterranean diet pyramid. Oldways Preservation Trust. http://www.oldwayspt.org/mediterranean-diet-pyramid. Accessed May 31, 2011.
  11. The Oldways' Asian diet pyramid. Oldways Preservation Trust. http://www.oldwayspt.org/asian-diet-pyramid. Accessed May 31, 2011.
  12. The Oldways' Latin American diet pyramid. Oldways Preservation Trust. http://www.oldwayspt.org/latino-diet-pyramid. Accessed May 31, 2011.
NU00190 June 18, 2011

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger