Last year, the US Department of Agriculture replaced the food pyramid, in use since 1992, reportedly because it was too complex for the general public to understand. Updated guidelines released in January 2011, “My Plate” were intended to be a simple and colorful new look aimed at dispensing updated diet information. The new picture shows a plate divided into four mostly equal sections; fruits and vegetables make up 50% and grains and proteins make up the other half. A glass on the side of the plate is labeled dairy.

Other USDA advice: drink more water instead of soda; drastically reduce salt; continue limiting saturated fats. The agency hopes the new guidelines will counter the obesity rate; the number of overweight or obese children in America has tripled since 1980.

Some are doubtful. “Following the new guidelines will not get you lean, probably will not help anyone lose excess body fat and might not make you any healthier,” say boomer generation health experts Dian Griesel, Ph.D., and Tom Griesel, authors of the new book TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust (April 2011, BSH).

“Most Americans think movie theater popcorn is a whole grain, along with lots of other refined and processed stuff marketed as such,” says Dian. “If that’s not bad enough, according to the new guidelines, almost 15% can be made up of processed grain derivative junk food with no nutritional value. These junk and fake whole grains are loaded with sugar, salt, fat and a host of chemicals and dyes.”

“Healthy diet choices are simple when you stick with simple and natural foods as delivered by Nature and consume them in a way that works with your body instead of against it,” says Tom. “Doing so will deliver a lean body and optimal health. Do not be misled by processed food manufacturers or government ‘guidelines.’”