Dietary chart

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's new dietary chart shows that you should eat more grains, fruits and vegetables and less meat, fat and sweets. The new pyramid-shaped chart replaces a health wheel that advised people to eat meat, breads, fruits, vegetables and dairy products in basically the same quantities. After the meat industry raised objections to the pyramid a year ago, the department spent almost $1 million and questioned 3,000 people in five cities but changed little except the design.

The Evening Sun would like to know what you think. Were the results worth the extra money, time and delay? Will the new Agriculture Department chart have any impact on the way you eat?

To register your opinion, call SUNDIAL at 783-1800 (or 268-7736 in Anne Arundel County) today through midnight. After you hear the greeting, you'll be asked to punch in a four-digit code on your touch-tone phone. Punch 4600 and you'll be connected with "It's Your Call," The Evening Sun's phone survey on topical issues.

"It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.

Look for the results in tomorrow's Evening Sun.