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This recommendation has almost single-handedly led to our present obesity epidemic. Remember: these types of carbohydrates convert into sugar and are stored as USDA Food Guide Pyramid fat-the same way pigs and cows are fattened! High-glycemic car- bohydrates in the form of bread, cereal, rice, and pasta should be used sparingly and replaced with carbohydrates in the form of fiber- rich fruits and vegetables. • Vegetables Group (3-5 servings) and Fruit Group (2-4 serv- ings): A diet rich in low-glycemic carbohydrates in the form of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables is a healthy one. The USDA's two to four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables per day should remain the same. • Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs & Nuts Group (2-3 serv- ings): Excluding dry beans, this is considered the protein group. Also, all proteins are not created equal. Leaner or low-fat sources of protein are better than higher-fat choices, but the USDA Food Guide Pyramid doesn't differentiate between naturally low-fat chicken and higher-fat sausage. The daily protein recommendations should be increased to five servings (at three meals and two snacks) per day, if you're choosing dairy options as a protein choice. The Milk, Yogurt & Cheese Group should also be incorporated into the protein group to avoid confusion. • Milk, Yogurt & Cheese Group (2-3 servings): The calcium that dairy products supply is an essential component of healthy bones. The USDA's suggestions of two to three servings per day seems ade- quate, but this group needs to be incorporated into the protein cat- egory. • Fats, Oils & Sweets (use sparingly): The USDA's recommen- dation of limiting saturated fats in the diet was good but needs to be updated to promote good fats in the form of essential fatty acids, and encourage avoidance of hydrogenated oils containing trans-fatty acids, such as margarine, as discussed later in this section. The good fats or essential fatty acids found in nuts and oils (olive oil, peanut oil, etc.) should be increased to three to five servings per day, with sweets remaining in the top of the pyramid to be used sparingly. By the way, the USDA is not to blame. Its intention of promoting good health through the Food Guide Pyramid was pure. It was just misin- formed, along with the rest of us. Now that the truth-is out, discussions are already under way among officials to turn the foodpyramid upside down. On September 10, 2003, the USDA sent out a press release calling for public comments on technical support data for the Food Guide Pyra- mid. It also asked for public comments on proposed revisions to the daily food intake patterns that serve as the technical basis of the Food Guide Pyramid. The USDA is reassessing the Food Guide Pyramid to ensure that it con- tinues to be based on the most current, sound, and comprehensive science to help Americans make better food choices.