I recently wrote this paper for my Liberation Theology class. I
felt that it was relevant enough to post here. The U.S. dietary
guidelines are something that can be seen multiple times on a
daily basis. They are posted in restaurants, magazines,
discussed on TV shows, and used by the majority of America’s
dieticians. The dietary guidelines (referred to as the “food
pyramid” in this paper) are a source of almost daily discussion
in my career as an Olympic and Weightlifting coach. Based on the
connections made between food lobbyists, private interests, and
their connection to the food pyramid, the food pyramid can be
seen as problematic on multiple levels. This paper will attempt
to dissect the history of the food pyramid, how private
interests have influenced its recommendations, and the possible
repercussions of following its recommendations. The origins of
the food pyramid can be traced to the beginning of the 20th
Century. As compounds like vitamins and minerals were being
discovered, foods were separated i