This past week, the US got a new food pyramid and people have a lot of opinions.
On one hand, most professionals tend to agree that the information it displays is largely fine.
Does it have some issues?
Sure.
But most generalized infographics are going to have problems.
The core message seems to be “focus on largely whole foods and prioritize protein and fiber.”
Great.
Thing is… that’s not new.
That’s been the general guideline for years.
If the government wants to represent that information on an upside down triangle taken from a 2014 episode of South Park… whatever.
I don’t care.
Because it doesn’t matter what shape you use to tell people to eat protein and fiber.
We don’t need a new shape.
We need a plan.
A real plan.
Not “tell people protein matters.”
But like… how are we going to help people who work 80 hours per week and can barely afford rent?
How are we going to feed people in food deserts?
How are we going to feed children when they can’t afford school lunches?
For decades, people have not followed dietary guidelines.
They didn’t follow the food pyramid.
They didn’t follow MyPlate.
And they’re not going to follow this inverted triangle either.
Why?
Because the dietary problems in the US aren’t problems of insufficient information.
They’re problems of insufficient action.
And we can put the blame on a wide array of people and systems, but I can pretty much promise you that you’re not going to change people’s actions by putting foods onto a new shape.
If you want to create change, then you need to create a plan.
A plan that helps people take real action.
A plan that adjusts when things go wrong.
A plan that works when things aren’t perfect.
You can have all the information in the world.
Without a plan, you still won’t see any progress.
I originally intended to turn this email into some trite bullshit about planning for a race – but with the events over the past week, I’m honestly just too tired.
So I’m just gonna leave it here.
Without a plan…
A solid, adaptable plan…
A plan that actually fits your schedule and your needs and your individual, personal goals…
You’re going to fail.
Now I’m going to go run out some frustration by doing lactate intervals on an incline.
I have a race in three months.
Gotta get moving.
PS – if you want something a little more useful, here’s a 3-minute video of me teaching the fundamentals of a back squat