New food pyramid just for seniors

We knew we were special, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture thinks so, too. Tufts University researchers have put out a food pyramid just for seniors: The Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults. The old food pyramid has been revamped, and now they’ve done the same with ours.

I like this one, and I think you will, too. It’s easy to understand, with graphics representing the different food groups. Ideally, according to the new pyramid, our diet will consist of:

• Whole wheat breads and enriched cereals, including brown rice

• Fruits with deep colors, such as melon and berries, packaged, canned or fresh

• Nuts and beans, fish, lean meats, eggs and poultry

• Carrots, broccoli and other brightly colored vegetables, packaged, canned or fresh

• Dairy products that are low or non-fat, or if we have trouble digesting dairy products, a low lactose milk

• Spreads and oils that are low in trans- and saturated fats

On the graphic below the foods there is a whole row of glasses, meant to remind us to drink enough liquids, something we tend to forget.

The very bottom row shows people engaged in various activities. The point, of course, is that the more active we are, the more likely we are to maintain a reasonable weight and reduce our changes of disease.

You have to take a close look, but there is a little flag at the top of the pyramid. That’s to remind us to ask our physicians if we should consider taking nutritional supplements.

If you want to assess your food intake, go to www.mypyramidtracker.gov and click on Check It Out (so you don’t have to register). You enter a day’s worth of dietary information and the machine will evaluate your diet and compare it to nutritional guidelines.