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Food pyramid has an ethnic twist

by KING5.com

WHAS11.com

Posted on July 28, 2010 at 12:15 PM

Updated Wednesday, Jul 28 at 12:15 PM

When the 2010 census is completed, we're expected to see just how much the country's population has changed in the last decade. But it's already clear in grocery stores and restaurants that Americans like a lot of ethnic food.

"When you see your food it speaks your language. The new Latino pyramid basically highlighting the foods we are so accustomed to," said dietician Sylvia Melendez Klinger.

So while the American food pyramid puts meat in the second level, meaning you can eat it every day, the Latin pyramid puts it in the top box, which means no more than a few times a week.

On the Asian pyramid, seafood and shellfish are a daily item.

And the beans and legumes that are just one more protein option for Americans feature prominently in both the Asian diet and the Latino diet.

Carbs now include rice and tortillas.

"The problem of obesity isn't just inherent to the United States, it's actually a global worldwide issue," said dietician Jeannie Houchins.

Houchins says when people emigrate they begin to see outsize meals as the norm.

"Coming to the United Sates, everything is bigger," she said.

Increasingly though, food that may remind people of their roots is becoming more commonplace in American diets. The end result is a more interesting way to eat nutritiously.

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