MSK Explains: The New Food Pyramid

CHRISTINA STELLA

So, what’s the deal with the new food pyramid? And what should you know about nutrition and cancer prevention? 

Hi everyone, my name is Christina Stella and I’m a registered dietitian nutritionist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

One of the confusing things about the new federal dietary guidelines is how they visually represent what we should eat.

With red meat now at the top, it may seem that that’s the most important part of the diet, but we know red meat is high in saturated fat and should be limited.

We like to recommend limiting consumption to no more than 18 ounces per week of red meat.

Whole grains and beans are now pushed down to the bottom, which may downplay the importance of dietary fiber and plant-based proteins in our overall health and cancer risk reduction.

A good thing is that fruits and vegetables are still at the top, representing the most important part of the diet.

Our team of dietitians likes to recommend following a mostly plant-based diet for our overall health and cancer risk reduction.

Think of your plate like this picture from the Institute of Family Health. Aim to have your meals be 50% fruits and vegetables, 25% whole grains, and 25% lean proteins.