We are surrounded by many different foods and many different ideas about what to eat. Many people turn to specialized diets and eating plans in order to provide a structure to help them feel less anxious about making food choices. Some try fad diets while others choose to follow eating plans, such as food pyramids.

A fad diet is typically some sort of weight-reduction diet that either eliminates one or more foods or food groups, or recommends consumption of one type of food in excess at the expense of other foods. A food guide pyramid, however, is a diagrammatic representation of recommended portions and choices in basic food groups.

For the full column, go to http://www.ncpad.org/754/3991/Working~from~the~Bottom~Up~~~A~Review~of~Evidence-Based~Food~Guide~Pyramids.