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Watch television for more than 20 minutes or page through a magazine and you will likely be exposed to at least one diet and one miracle diet pill. As more and more Americans find out they are overweight, they are looking for a quick fix – a diet or pill that will make shedding the pounds simple. The truth is, while many of these diets or pills may work in the short-term, many find that they are gaining the weight back once they stop the diet. What does work is creating a diet based on the traditional food pyramid. Taking the time to understand the pyramid and how it impacts your diet can help make sure you eat a health and well-balanced diet.
Build your pyramid by following a simple rule. The lower on the pyramid the more often you should eat that item or food group. For example, the bottom of your food group may contain lean protein sources. The higher up on the pyramid, the less of that food group you should eat.
Remember, the most successful diets allow for some ‘fun’ foods. You may want to consider keep your top slot for some healthy snacks like frozen yogurt.
Finally, your food pyramid should include dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Use the USDA food pyramid as a basis.
By basing your diet on a food pyramid, you will see long-term success. The diet will be easier to follow and you will likely find yourself making life-long changes to the way you eat.
