291075 Mon Dec 02 20:22:43 -0800 2002 1 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1582292 Today the LA Times food section printed a new food pyramid putting potatoes at the top with sweets, etc, to be eaten seldom. What's that about--just the stuff we slather on them? And what's the latest on eggs & cholesterol--are eggs okay now? Mon Dec 02 20:22:43 -0800 2002 0 Babette 1 1582298 This version of the food pyramid is based on the so-called Harvard Diet, which in turn is derived from a huge and very well designed study of the health effects of diet. The basic finding is that the old food pyramid was fundamentally flawed in focussing too heavily on fat and not enough on calories. The main changes are distinguishing between good and bad fat on one hand and good and bad carbohydrates on the other. Cholestrol and saturated fats should be eaten (by people over the age of 2) in very small quantities, vegetable fats in somewhat larger quantities. Simple carbohydrates (sugar, rice, potato, processed grains) which have a high calorie-to-weight ratio should be consumed rarely; complex carbohydrates (vegetables and most fruits) should be a major source of calories. Eggs are a great food, as long as your total cholestrol intake is reasonable. They are a great source of protein. Egg whites are a good thing. Mon Dec 02 21:05:37 -0800 2002 1582292 0 Josh Mittleman