After decades of teaching the food pyramid, now health officials are switching it up. They’ve cast aside the pyramid and introduced a new tool called My Plate.
The plate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups. The USDA rolled out this new visual aid this week with the help of First Lady Michelle Obama.
“This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating and as a mom, I can already tell how much this is going to help parents across the country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “When mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we’re already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew. So it’s tough to be a nutritionist, too. But we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates. As long as they’re half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we’re golden. That’s how easy it is.”
MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal time and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.
“The new icon is simple and easy to understand, with more emphasis placed on fruits and vegetables,” said U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin. “This new tool can be a fun way to help individuals and families make healthier meal choices. I encourage all Americans to follow the new dietary guidelines and become familiar with the new icon because it will serve as a compass to a healthy and fit nation.”
Health experts hope the simplicity of the plate will encourage more parents to check the diagram before preparing meals. This in addition to a new Let’s Move campaign aimed at keeping kids active could begin to curb the obesity epidemic in children.
