Before food was organized into cohesive groups or placed into a pyramid or a plate, The United States Department of Agriculture introduced the Basic 7 Food Chart. Developed in 1943 as part of the nationwide implementation of wartime food rationing, the “Basic 7” stressed the need to maintain proper nutrition and healthy eating habits that were compatible with the limitation of certain foods. The Basic 7 food groups were:

1. Green and yellow vegetables (some raw; some cooked, frozen or canned)
2. Oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit (or raw cabbage or salad greens)
3. Potatoes and other vegetables and fruits (raw, dried, cooked, frozen or canned)
4. Milk and milk products (fluid, evaporated, dried milk, or cheese)
5. Meat, poultry, fish, or eggs (or dried beans, peas, nuts, or peanut butter)
6. Bread, flour, and cereals (natural whole grain, or enriched or restored)
7. Butter and fortified margarine (with added Vitamin A)

The USDA stressed the importance of groups one through three not only for their nutritional value, but due to the fact that the foods included could all be grown to some degree in personal Victory Gardens, thus saving ration points for more limited items such as meat and sugar.

It is also interesting that butter was a category unto itself.




http://www.nww2m.com/2012/05
/before-the-food-pyramid-w
as-a-pyramid-or-when-butte
r-was-its-own-food-group/


Yesterday was a solid day. I drank my water, ate within calories, walked in the morning, and jumped on the stationary bike last night. It wasn't a long time on the bike, but it was a start. I need to figure out where I packed my iPod so I can use that while I'm doing my cardio.

I did give into temptation at the grocery store last night and bought a box of pumpkin spice cake donuts. They only come out once each year and they looked SOOOO good. But by the time I got home, I had myself under control. I didn't eat any of them. In fact, the donuts never left my trunk. Tonight is trash night so they'll go from my trunk to the trash can.

Today has been good so far. I ate a big healthy breakfast. I brought my lunch and had a bunch of veggies. I've already had my water and a walk. Things are on a roll.