PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- It seems we're flooded these days with information about different diets, how to lose weight, what to eat and what not to eat.

About 10 years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture came up with a pyramid to help people figure out how to have a healthy diet. But some people say it's just not working.

Health experts say the number of people gaining weight and dying of heart disease is staggering. So much, in fact, that some say it's time to change the way the food pyramid is stacked.

At the New England Culinary Institute, budding young chefs are learning how to serve up satisfying meals and offer the trim versions for which so many people are looking.

"Basically, I want to learn as much as I can to find what's the best and suit that toward client needs," said student chef Garrett Jones.

Jones is a second-year student at NECI. He wants to continue his education in nutrition, mostly because he sees how the American diet stacks up.

"They want to stick to comfort foods," said Jones. Most don't eat for heart reasons. (They like) bacon, fried foods, quick and easy (meals). Got to grab it and go."

It makes students like Jones and health experts wonder if people understand the basics of good nutrition.

"I was amazed at what they knew about nutrition," said registered dietician Jerie Reid.

DIETING Snack Packs: For The Lazy? Drinks: Cocktails + Calories Slideshow: Fat-Burning Foods Slideshow: Celebrity Weight Loss Calories: Needs | Burn Them Off FROM OUR PARTNERS Best: Foods We Never Eat Learn: Your Daily Calorie Needs Tips: Not All 'Health' Food Healthy

The Clinton County, N.Y., Health Department works with school nutrition managers to find ways to get the healthy eating message out. One way is to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture food pyramid.

"The pyramid is a tool to start talking about nutrition," Reid said. "It is not meant to be the everything."

The pyramid has been around since the early 1990s. It starts with a foundation of bread, cereals and pasta -- and builds up on vegetables, fruits, milk and proteins. Fats, oils and sweets rise to the top, with the message, "use sparingly."

"There's a lot more to the food pyramid than meets the eye," Reid said. "It's looking at portions, looking at composition of choices you make within the pyramid."

Researchers at Harvard University believe the pyramid is upside down and carbohydrate-heavy. That's why they've created the "healthy-eating pyramid."

It recommends eating red meats and carbs like white rice and potatoes sparingly. Whole grain foods and plant oils are encouraged at most meals.

"It's not that fats are bad," Reid said. "It depends on what fat you're eating."

The Harvard team said people who followed a diet based on their pyramid reduced the risk of major chronic diseases twofold over people who followed the USDA pyramid.

That's noteworthy to the culinary students, but Jones said there is one key to eating -- enjoy a little of everything.

"I think one of the best things you can do is eat in proportion," Jones said. "Don't eat more calories in a day than you need."

And he said it works to think ahead and plan your meals.

"I know people say I don't have time to do it, but try to take time to make a meal a couple times a week for yourself -- versus eating out of a box," Jones said. "You'll have less calories and cholesterol, for sure."

The base of the Harvard pyramid is exercise. Experts say that's a great idea because you should have a good foundation of activity to go along with healthy eating.

There are many food pyramids, including vegetarian, Mediterranean, Latin American and Asian. You can see how they all stack up at www.nutritionfocus.com.