The pyramids go veg: new food guide

Vegetarian Times, Jan, 1998 by Cristin Marandino

Despite the constant barrage of evidence linking vegetarianism to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, a decreased incidence of obesity and improved heart health, turning the meat and potatoes set onto a plant-based diet is no small feat. But this past November it got a little easier when the Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust unveiled its new Vegetarian Diet Pyramid at the International Conference on Vegetarian Diets, held in Austin, Texas, and sponsored in part by Vegetarian Times.

Oldways is a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization devoted to the promotion of healthy, environmentally sustainable and multicultural foods. The organization also is behind the development and introduction of the Asian, Mediterranean and Latin American Pyramids.

Unlike the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Guide Pyramid, which promotes meat, fish and poultry as primary sources of protein and lists servings-per-day requirements, this pyramid promotes protein from soy, legumes, dairy, nuts and seeds and tosses out the notion of daily servings per category. "[Cornering] people doesn't work....We try to say have fun, think about what you want and use common sense," says K. Dun Gifford, Old-ways' founder and president. "If you want to be healthy, eat like a healthy person--people respond so strongly to that message."

Other notable differences in the vegetarian pyramid are its emphasis on daily physical activity and the inclusion of alcohol. While the alcohol issue may be a point of contention for some, Gifford shrugs it off, "Some people like to have a beer with dinner. Let them have a beer with dinner."

While you'd think a pyramid that omits meat would be Public Enemy No. 1 in Washington--where cattle and beef interests reign supreme--Gifford maintains the USDA is fairly nonchalant about the Old-ways' pyramids. "We certainly don't say people should stay away from [Oldways'] pyramids. They have their place," says John Webster, director of public information for the Center for Nutrition Policy and Procedure, a division of the USDA in Washington, D.C. In fact, the USDA released an informational packet comparing the Oldways pyramids with the USDA's version that recognized them as "being consistent with current nutritional recommendations. "

Developed through analysis of vegetarian diets and the positive health profiles of those who follow them--from Seventh-day Adventists to Latin American vegetarians--the Vegetarian Diet Pyramid strives to educate the public on the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Gifford is bold about his mission: "Oldways is trying to change people's food choices....The purpose is to get people to eat more vegetarian meals."

It's not an entirely new concept for the organization. In fact, each of its pyramids has de-emphasized meat consumption and ultimately helped lead to the construction of the Vegetarian Diet Pyramid. "This one cuts across the others [pyramids] by saying there are vegetarians all over the world [and asking] what is common and consistent in their diets." Turning this global outlook into a clear guide will undoubtedly pump up the volume of Gifford's already boisterous vegetarian message: A plant-based diet is better for you, doable and delicious.