WASHINGTON – The American Meat Institute and the US Department of Agriculture have collaborated on the “Partnering with MyPyramid” program. 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.

AMI also uses its nutritional education tools and the Dietary Guidelines’ recommendation of consuming 5 to 7 oz. of meat per day as a focal point in many consumer education materials.


“We are proud to join with USDA in this partnership,” said James 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’s 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.

“AMI will utilize this partnership and continue to voice its support for the premise that a well-balanced diet, proper portion sizes and exercise are keys to overall good health,” Hodges concluded.

For more information, go to:http://www.mypyramid.gov/challenge/partners.html.