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Moderation

Category: Food
Posted: Jul 24, 2008 06:27 am
(posted by: MommyofE&A)

Moderation: mod·er·a·tion mod-uh-rey-shuh $\"\"$ n–noun

1. the quality of being moderate; restraint; avoidance of extremes or excesses; temperance.
2. in moderation, without excess; moderately; temperately: to drink in moderation.

dictionary.com.

Here is my soap box rant for the day. I’m tired of people using the term “moderation” as an excuse to over eat.

Clearly these folks have not looked at the food pyramid lately.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newest food pyramid guide, called MyPyramid, encourages consumers to make healthier food choices and to get regular exercise. Unlike the older model, food groups are arranged in vertically bands, instead of horizontal ones. Band width indicates portion size. The wider the band, the more food from that group you should eat.

Take a look at the various color bands - not one there that represents junk food and fat filled food, yet I see people gorging on unhealthy food options touting “everything in moderation”.

I think the media has give people an excuse by putting this phrase “everything in moderation” out there. Our society does not need more excuses to over eat or make bad food choices.

Here are 5 sad statistcs on why that phrase should be banned:

1. According to data published by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2006, obesity rates for preschool children and adolescents have more than tripled in the past 30 years. One-third of US children are now obese or at risk of being obese.

2. Some nine million children ages six to19 in the US are now classified as overweight or obese. The overall prevalence of obesity in children was 17 percent in 2006.

3. Estimates show that one in three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in their life, according to the ADA. This statistic is nearly one in two for Hispanic, Native American or African American children.

4. According to a SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Population Study, sponsored by the CDC and NIH, 6 percent of non-Hispanic white 10-19 year-olds currently suffer from type 2 diabetes, which is the type linked to obesity, and which is when the body does not create enough insulin and when cells are resistant to insulin.

5.This figure jumps to 22 percent for Hispanics, 33 percent for African Americans, 40 percent for Asians/Pacific Islanders, and 76 percent for Native Americans.

According to the dietary guidelines, a health diet is one that

Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products;
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

Everything in moderation - EVEN MODERATION!

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Moderation