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The problem with the food pyramid is that most folks eat 6 servings of starch before lunch time and think they have only eaten 2 servings (like those mega-muffins). Not to mention the sugar. Personally, I prefer the Mediterranian or the Harvard versions of the Pyramid, because they push fiber, mono-fats and really dis sugars and refined starches.

Other cultures eat dried beans and peas, corn, grain foods like quinoa or amaranth, brown rice, unrefined breads etc. And their portions aren't as large either. And their incidents of heart disease and cancer are much lower. 'Sides, the Krebs cycle ain't goin' anywhere.

BTW, check out some of the Cancer sites (like AICR) and see what they have to say about the importance of 'plant' sources in the human diet.

I have mentioned the Mediterranean diet to my wife, who adores pasta.

I was reading the Eades book, which is a "protein" based diet book. They talk quite a bit about the importance of various vegetables as cancer preventatives, they also state that some fat must be ingested with the plants in order to allow your body to get the full benefit.

My personal favorite is spinach. 'Course, I am pretty much of a carnivore. Although, I worry about the hormones and stuff that are fed to cattle. Probably wild game is better.

The problem with the food pyramid is that most folks eat 6 servings of starch before lunch time and think they have only eaten 2 servings (like those mega-muffins).

You are absolutely correct about serving sizes. I followed Weight Watchers several years ago, before the current points system, where "servings" were the method used. A serving of bread (or starch, or grain) was, for example, 1/2 cup of pasta, 1 oz. of bread, or 1/2 cup of rice. If you eat at a restaurant, a "serving" of pasta could be equal to FOUR Weight Watchers servings. Yikes! A bagel for breakfast would net you 3 1/2 servings of bread (I weighed one).

I recently tried the Atkins diet, but found it to be too extreme for me. I switched to just watching my servings, and exercising more. I eat lots of fresh and steamed vegetables, fresh fruit, and some whole grain bread, along with the usual protein (fish, beef, eggs, etc). I probably get no more than four servings of the "starch" component a day. Atkins wouldn't approve, but I this works for me. And I don't have to take a boatload of supplements.