Food Pyramid Showdown

Above about showdown at Food Pyramid.

There’s trouble afoot at the Food Pyramid: Strange new junk food like “candy bar” and “hot dog” are kicking off all the healthy food to have their own party. Even poor Granny Smith apple gets the boot! As the fruits and vegetables try to regroup, the junk keeps the party going. But no pyramid can support all that junk for long-when it comes time to rebuild, will the healthy foods be able to find the right balance?

With different diets receiving so much attention in recent years, nutrition can be a confusing topic for young readers, so Rex Barron uses a simple story and animated edibles to present an easy introduction to the basic concepts of healthy eating as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture.

PreSchool-Grade 2–In this dynamic picture book, personified foods fight a battle over good nutrition. Following the wisdom of the Great Food Guide tacked on the wall, the various edibles that form the pyramid have always tried to remain in balance. Then, dangerous interlopers overrun them and take over the top level (”They had strange names like Hot Dog, Candy Bar and Donut, and they liked to cause trouble”). The healthy foods almost give up trying to make things right again, but the problem is resolved when the pyramid is destroyed by its own excess; with all of that fattening stuff on top, it collapses “under its own weight.” The foods then rebuild the structure, a process shown in a literal and amusing way, with sturdy starches supporting bright fruits and vegetables, and finally, way up on top, a few sweets and fats, which are allowed to return. The message is up front, but the humorous tone keeps the story from becoming overwhelmingly didactic. The pictures are great, with vivid colors and lots of drama and personality.