As far as the food pyramid goes I have to say that a "cookie cutter" generalization like this one has lots of inherent problems. Diabetics, people with GI tract disorders, food sensitivities, food allergies or even someone who has lived many eating tons of junk and no exercise——does the "pyramid fit them? Hardly. Is the fact that grains are recommended the most a good idea? Not in my experience it isn't. They definitely have their place, but blood sugar may not react favorably when gobbling up too much of this stuff. A whole book could be written about this though. Let's just say any attempt to generalize everyone never works and never will.