Mark Bittman just recently wrote an article for the New York Times that says the newest American government’s nutritional recommendations are the best yet:

Limited kudos go to the United States Department of Agriculture, whose Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 — yes, it’s 2011, but they’re published every five years — are the best to date.

Although they’re the best yet, they’re still not as good as they should be. Mainly, they’re too vague. He explains:

The report might have led with Michael Pollan’s ground-breaking slogan — “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” — and then explained details in a few pages. But although the agency’s advisory committee suggested a “shift . . . toward a more plant-based diet,” the report itself backs “a healthy eating pattern,” and then, over 100-plus pages, proceeds to imprecision to avoid offending meat and sugar lobbies.[...]

It isn’t easy to cook with the junk that makes junk food junky, but the agency spends little energy boosting cooking. There is the, “Cook and eat more meals at home . . . include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and protein foods that provide fewer calories and more nutrients.” But it stands almost alone, and could have been far simpler and stronger. Why isn’t it? Because “protein foods that provide fewer calories” doesn’t offend the meat industry, as Pollan’s motto does.

For the record, some excellent “protein foods that provide fewer calories” include split pea soup, black bean burgers, lentils and rice, vegan chili, hoppin john, and other bean dishes. Tofu, tempeh, and seitan fill the protein requirement, too.

You can read Bittman’s whole article here >>
Or just shift yourself to a plant-based diet now by visiting chooseveg.com or tryveg.com!

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Sections: Vegan Food
Topics: beans, calories, dietary guidelines, Food, health, mark bittman, news, nutrition, protein, tofu, USDA, Vegan