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| today's sourdough loaf -- part of our grain foods |
I grew up with the 4 basic food groups. Then the food pyramid was introduced with 6 layers. And today the US government promotes the MyPlate visual with 5 food groups. Did you know that in the 1940s, the foods we eat were divided into 7 categories -- the Basic Seven?
General knowledge of nutrition has come a long way since the 40s. My guess is the 7 food groups were a method of teaching the average woman how to get the right balance of nutrients during a period when some basic foods might not be available or abundant, especially for those in cities.
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| From Health for Victory: Meal Planning Guide, April 1944 |
This particular food scheme divides foods into the usual milk and milk products, meat and meat alternatives, bread/flour/cereals, butter/fortified margarine, plus it breaks down fruits and vegetables into 3 distinct groups: green/yellow vegetables, oranges, tomatoes and grapefruit, and potatoes/other vegetables and fruits. The publisher goes on to say that each group has specific benefits for health and beauty.
In looking back at last week's post of a sample day's meal plan, the writers do indeed include foods from each of the 7 groups. In that's day's plan, there are 2 servings of citrus, 2 servings of orange vegetables, 1 serving of green vegetables, other fruits, plenty of milk, meat and meat alternatives, fats, and grains.
The food groups' article is titled "Eat Your Way to Beauty". Much of the focus of the text is on the beauty benefits of eating from all of the 7 groups each day. Little tidbits of information are provided such as Iron may boost a woman's radiance as she feels more "pep". Or, Riboflavin found in dark green leafy vegetables is good for eye health and may prevent bloodshot eyes. Or, lack of Vitamin C could lead to scurvy symptoms, such as loose teeth and bleeding gums.
"U.S. Needs Us Strong. Eat the Basic 7 Every day."
Both beauty and health were extremely important on the home front during World War II, as most women and men were part of the war production in one way or another. For men not yet serving, they needed both excellent health and vigor to fulfill their roles once inducted. In addition, the US government used this moment to build lasting good health throughout society, from the very young to the very old. There were educational films that described the ideal diet. Booklets such as the one I am posting about. And the government rolled out the Victory Garden to improve the variety of produce most Americans ate.
As for beauty, such emphasis on half of the population's appearance might be controversial today, but a beautiful woman was thought to boost morale back then and project an image of strength, tenacity, and power. Much of war is psychological. Projecting resilience in the face of attacks says to the enemy that you can go on fighting just as long as they can, maybe longer. And a nation that is taking care of its looks as well as its health is a nation that is looking to the future.
I think dividing foods into 7 categories is actually a good way to go about nutritional guidance. It's more to remember, but it ensures all the bases are covered. It's sort of how I think of what I need to eat for the day. I do think about leafy greens or deep orange vegetables. And I try to get something with Vitamin C each day. And as I get older, I try to get more protein (meat/meat alternatives) and my dairy for calcium. I cover all the categories, but I just don't sit down and plan it out in advance.
What do you think? Which do you prefer, the 4 food groups, the food pyramid, MyPlate, or the Basic 7? Do you go for the simplicity of 4 or even 5? Or did you like the visual aspects of the food pyramid? Do you give much thought to the categories of foods you're eating? Or do you eat more intuitively?
About 10 years ago, we went to the National Archives and saw an exhibit on how the government has influenced the food we eat over the last 200 years. It was very interesting seeing how nutrition ideas changed over time. It included the chart you showed above. I don't think of my food with one specific plan in mind. Basically, I try to eat more vegetables and protein and less sugar and fats. When I was growing up and my mother went back to work, my sisters and took turns being responsible for cooking supper. Our mother's guidance at that time was this. We should have a meat, a starch, a yellow vegetable, and a green vegetable. We always had milk to drink--a carryover from my father growing up on a farm.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteThat sounds like a really interesting exhibit, to me at least.
Your mother's guidance on preparing dinner/supper sounds like it covered the nutritional bases. Do you still prepare dinner along those guidelines?
Your bread looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIn my lifetime, I've seen a lot of iterations of what composes a balanced diet from government sources. There is tons of dietary advice out everywhere now, and it can be tricky to figure out what is valid information vs inaccurate. I don't consciously think about including a set number of food groups these days, since my meals tend to follow a "script". Like Live and Learn, I try to minimize sugar/unhealthy fats and focus on whole grains, lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and milk/yogurt. I have varying success with that. ;)