What do you think about going back to the four food groups?

I was thinking that the four food groups was easier for everyone to understand and since we have switched to the food pyramid it seems to me that people don’t think about having a veg, starch, and protein on each plate. Well, I guess that is three groups, I am all for leaving dairy out, even though I do eat dairy at times.

I was wondering if children talk about the food pyramid? I don’t have children so I don’t know if it is really being taught or not.

I found this link http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html that does support my idea that obesity has really risen in the last 20 years, and we did away with the four food groups about 20 years ago.

I realize there is probably not one simple answer for the obesity problem, but I do know that when I was a kid I ate cookies baked with enriched flour, margarine (hydrogenated oil) was a mainstay in my house, and I drank all the coca-cola I wanted. But, every night for dinner we had a vegetable, starch, and protein, and portions were smaller then what I think people eat today.

If you think there is a better idea than the four food groups and the food pyramid I would be interested in hearing it.