Cleopatra and her friends were way ahead of their time, but not just because of their cool jewelry and eyeliner. Thousands of years after the Egyptians buried King Tut and built the Sphinx, a new world wonder was inspired: MyPyramid. OK, so it's not the Great Pyramid of Cheops, but MyPyramid is a handy planner modern Cleos can relate to. back to top

What is MyPyramid?
MyPyramid is an outline of what to eat each day. According to MyPyramid, eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to stay healthy. Other good things to eat are milk products, lean meats, nuts, and beans. It is best to avoid saturated fats, trans-fats, added sugars, sodium (salt), and cholesterol. You can eat foods with more fat and sugar (like sweetened yogurt or whole milk) after you have fulfilled your nutritional needs. Be careful, though, because most people tend to eat too much of the extra fat and sugar and don’t eat enough healthy food. back to top

Don't forget exercise!
Another important factor in maintaining a healthy weight is exercise. Like the character walking up the stairs on MyPyramid, you ought to exercise at least 30 minutes a day! back to top

What if all I eat is cereal?
Start with one manageable goal. Girls who try to change their entire diet in a day or a week are setting themselves up to fail. Take a look at MyPyramid and see what's missing from your diet. Then choose one small change you want to make. If all you eat is cereal, add strawberries, blueberries, dried cherries, or any other fruit you like to your bowl. Need more protein? Toss in a few unsalted almonds or try soy milk. Once eating more fruit or protein becomes a habit (usually after a couple of weeks), work on your next goal. back to top

What exactly should I eat?
MyPyramid does not endorse a specific dietary plan, because diets vary depending on factors like age, weight, and gender. See MyPyramid.gov for a customized plan.

Just so you know, MyPyramid replaced the Food Guide Pyramid in 2005, and now has a greater emphasis on exercise and personalized diets. back to top

Some information in this article references MyPyramid.gov