PEOPLE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed a pyramid design, replacing the familiar pie chart, to illustrate the relative importance of food groups, with fats, oils and sweets shown at the top of the pyramid to be used sparingly. The Southeast Missourian asked people which of their favorite foods, now shown at the top of the pyramid, they would have preferred to be placed at the bottom.

Laurel Adkisson: "Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy; blue cheese dressing; cream sauces, potato chips and dips. I could eat cheese all day long. My mother makes a cherry cream cheese pie that's just incredible."

Brad Wendel: "My two vices are chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Those two things will make the new pyramid hard for me. Ice cream is one of my favorites. I eat a lot of Pop Tarts. I have a bad sweet tooth."

Phyllis McDonald: "Burgers, fries, pizza, chocolate, peach cobbler, cheese cake. I could eat chocolate all day. Any kind of turtle, gooey, creamy, chocolate, nuts, caramel, banana splits. Maybe some pork chops and greasy ribs."

Claire Campbell: "I would prefer to see a double hot fudge sundae, potato chips and all kinds of dips. Pie and cobblers. Also, my sister's gooey butter cake, and there's a real good banana split dessert that's full of fat and sweet."

Darren Compas: "I'm a fast food junkie, so it would be all kinds of fast foods including Big Macs, Whoppers, and fries. I like cheese cakes, pies, candy and especially Haas double fudge cake. When I get my hands on it, I eat it."

Marie Howell: "I absolutely love pork loin cooked with potatoes, carrots and brown gravy. I would throw in broccoli for good health. A salad with lots of creamy Thousand Island dressing. Peach pie, banana cream and coconut cream pie and Danish pastry."