Notice that most of the diets emphasize an almost unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables provide the body with a direct source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, water and a wide variety of antioxidants.
Grains and cereals in the diet should come from whole grains. The refining of cereal to white flour diminishes the nutrient content of the food while raising the glycemic affect on the body (not a good thing! Especially for diabetics).
The meat or protein source in most of the pyramids emphasizes foods that are low in saturated fats.
Which one you think would be best for you?
The Latin American Diet
The Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid
The Mediterranean Diet
The Asian Diet
All of the pyramids emphasize daily activity.
Only the USDA pyramid (most likely influenced by number of political agendas) pushes for a higher intake of meat, diary and cereals. Most of the other pyramids place a higher emphasis on fruits and vegetables as the main course of the meal.
There is a big healthy difference between eating whole grains and cereals and refined grains and cereals. The carbohydrates that you eat should be low glycemic carbohydrates whenever possible. There is also a big difference between eating essential fats (omega 3 and omega 6 oils) and non essential fats like partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat) and saturated fat.
The USDA pyramid does not distinguish between the type of grain/cereal, the type of protein source nor the type of fat being eaten.
A moderate intake of alcohol is the equivalent of one glass of red wine daily.
The U.S.D.A. Food Guide Pyramid
The Vegetarian Diet
If I were going to make a food pyramid, the base of mine would be vegetables, with whole grains, fruits, legumes & beans coming up next. This would be like the Mayo, Latin & Vegetarian bases. Healthy fats with plant oils, nuts and Omega-3s would be the next level, like Vegetarian, Asian, and Mediterranean. Second to the top would be dairy, eggs, and other lean proteins like Latin, Mediterranean, Vegetarian, and Asian. At the very top would be sweets and meat, like Asian, Mediterranean and Latin food pyramids. :)
