Food Pyramid

As I ruminate on this story, I am snacking on chicken lo mein (extra spicy) and a fistful of fried pork dumplings. How, exactly, would this Chinese takeout be classified on the latest food pyramid published by the USDA? I can’t help but notice the brillo on the noodles and wonder how much fat I’m consuming in this one meal. Would I have been better off eating a turkey sandwich instead?

Voilá. At www.myfoodapedia.gov, I can get answers to my dietetic questions within a few mouse clicks. Not only can I find out how many calories I’m ingesting, the app also breaks my leftovers down by food group. I can even compare the nutritional value of the chicken lo mein and dumplings to the (healthier) turkey sandwich. It’s a very handy application.

OK, it may not be exact science, but it’s at least in the caloric ballpark. A little math is involved, but if you at least know the main ingredient and serving size, you can get a general idea of calorie intake.