Vegetables on top of Flanders’ reconfigured food pyramid

On top of the inverted pyramid is the guideline to drink plenty of water. Under this, the pyramid contains foods of plant origin, including vegetables, fruit, rice, bread and nuts. “These should form the basis of our meals,” said the institute in a statement, “with the addition of smaller amounts of food of animal origin, like fish, dairy products or meat.”

Dairy, eggs, fish and chicken come lower on the pyramid, while the smallest section contains butter and red meat. The institute also recommends considering alternatives to meat such as soy-based products or legumes, which it includes with vegetables at the top of the pyramid.

The smallest section of the previous version of the institute’s pyramid contained foods that are not nutritionally sound such as sweets and soft drinks. These are now placed in a separate circle next to the pyramid with the warning “as little as possible”. The circle also contains processed meats, salt, fried foods and alcohol.

“We want to make it clear that we don’t need these products,” Loes Neven of the institute told VRT. “We don’t forbid them, but they should be rather an exception than rule.” According to the institute, average consumption of these foods is currently much too high.

The institute has added a second pyramid for physical activity. Among its recommendations are getting up from your seat every half an hour and taking part in exercise at least once a week that increases your heart rate, such as aerobics or jogging.
Photo: Ingimage