I grew up in an area very similar. And I know how the food pyramid works. But it doesn't go into detail about food options. It doesn't tell you that whole grain bread is the best alternative. It doesn't tell you that commercialised cereal actually isnt very healthy. Bread, cereals, rice & pasta's are the base of the food pyramid. So 'should' be eaten the most. I'm not so sure the food pyramid is as accurate as it could be?

I don't remember school going into that sort of detail either.

And again, we all know fruits & veg are healthier, but we don'tthink in great detail about how they're served. Some options aren't all that healthy in the end.
Good point. I guess I've always been a natural sort of person so eaing food closer to its natural state comes easily to me.

What BD said is true, about creativity. But again it does come back down to laziness for some part... Why get creative when you can buy a jar of Chicken Tonight for $2.50?

Food manufacturers have a lot to answer for. I do think there needs to be much stricter guidelines on the amount they advertise. Coco Pops commercials running conveniently during children's program hours and what not.