AMI Joins USDA's Partnering With MyPyramid Program

WASHINGTONThe American Meat Institute (AMI) has joined USDAs Partnering with MyPyramid" program to voice its support for the premise that a well-balanced diet, proper portion sizes and exercise are keys to overall good health.

The MyPyramid Food Guidance System is a network of nutrition education tools that puts the Dietary Guidelines for Americans into practice by providing personalized information on foods and dietary patterns.

We are proud to join with USDA in this partnership," said James H. Hodges, AMI executive vice president. The health of our customers is the driving force in the production of meat and poultry products, not only with respect to improving the safety of meat and poultry products, but also in offering diverse nutritional products to consumers so they can make an educated decision in choosing the food that best fits their personal lifestyle and family needs."

AMI has long supported the MyPyramid system and uses its nutritional education tools and the Dietary Guidelines recommendation of consuming 5 to 7 ounces of meat per day as part of a healthy, balanced diet as a focal point in many of the institutes consumer education materials.

AMIs MeatPoultryNutrition.org provides links to many of the MyPyramid tools as a step to encourage a healthy lifestyle, including sections about proper portion sizes, the benefits of protein in the diet and information about achieving a healthy body weight. The site also features a MyPyramid for Kids" section that offers parents a guide to healthier foods and physical activity choices for kids.