Have you seen the new nutritional tool for Americans?
The pyramid has been replaced! [source]
I’m a big fan of Michelle Obama’s campaign against obesity…when she added a garden to the White House so soon after moving in, I knew she meant business. It seems she’s been working overtime to make changes to the old model. I have to say, this tool has seemed outdated for quite some time, so I’m glad that a new image will take over.
As you can see, it is now a plate, divided into the sections: vegetables, fruit, grains, and protein (with a dairy drink on the side).
Likes
- There are no quantifiable serving sizes or amounts (much more simple that the former model)
- Fruit and veggies take up half the plate (this is a GREAT visual)
- The word “protein” is used instead of “meat” (way more vegetarian friendly)
- The protein portion is the smallest one (maybe this will finally convince non-body-builders that protein isn’t supposed to be the dominant part of the American diet)
- The word “grain” is used instead of “carbohydrates”
Dislikes (or to-be-improved)
- There are no quantifiable serving sizes or amounts (is this model too simple?)
- “Protein” gets it’s own category (kinda negates the fact that there is protein in grains and dairy, too)
- Dairy as a drink choice is great when it’s compared to soda as an alternate, but what about nondairy options?
Since my likes outweigh my dislikes, I’d consider the remodel a successful one…with room for improvement. I guess we will wait and see how it’s received by the public. Do kids still learn about the food pyramid in school? Do you remember learning about it? I do. It was posted in our family’s kitchen on the cabinet where my mom’s cookbooks were stored (right above our “snack drawer”). And I remember at a very young age constructing perfectly proportioned meals like peanut butter and jelly and tomato soup with stone ground wheat crackers. I even used to write them down! I guess I was a food blogger without a blog, even when I was in elementary school…
Thoughts on the new plate?
That’s amazing that you were so into creating balanced meals at such a young age!
I like the concept of the plate but you make some good points about its room for improvement, I definitely agree with what you’ve said!
I remember reading about this a few days ago on Fooducate (or maybe it was yesterday? Lol!) I think it’s great that Obama is really into health and nutrition, especially for our kids these days – but I think more schools need to work on implimenting diet and health!
Ooooh! Thanks for sharing! I’m excited about this, it’s a HUGE improvement over the food pyramid of our childhood. I remember being showed the food pyramid, oh, 3rd grade or so, and being the achiever that I am I thought – I’m gonna follow this! But then I saw the serving suggestion for the bread, cereal, rice & pasta group (it took up the whole freakin bottom of the pyramid!) and thought – gosh, I could never eat that much! In fact all the serving suggestions were a little much. But it shaped my early conception of a proper meal consisting of some kind of grain, meat, dairy, and vegetable. Imagine the thrill when my favorite food, pizza, fit this model! Crust, peperoni, cheese, tomato sauce! Health food!
i think the FDA is doing much better with this. ALthough, I need a special section for condiments. haha.
I realy like the new concept- I think it makes so much more sense then the old, outdated pyramid!
I like that it is simple and easy to use, it is very easy to imagine how your meal should look like. But as you have writen, maybe it is a bit too easy to include all the nutrition aspects. But I like that it is more vegetarian/vegan friendly…hopefully they will improve the plate in the “drink departement” and it will be almost fine 🙂
I think it’s definitely an improvement. Some folks need it dumbed down like this. I’d replace the Dairy glass with a Chocolate plate, but that’s just me.
i agree with you that it’s an improvement but not the ultimate solution. people really need to take the time to educate themselves and not be led to believe that food companies have their best interest at heart! making the portion sizes easier to see is great — i wish they’d show a smaller plate, too!
easy rules, easy decisions, hopefully equals easier road to health!
I think the new food pyramid is better, but it’s still in a way trying to make a one-size-fits-all solution to something that is anything but. The government is still pretty biased towards the dairy and grain councils when tests prove again and again fruit, vegetable, and free-range protein have the best health benefits.
I think a lot of people in general are visual beings, so I think the plate format is better, however, I think it does need specific guidelines for portions. I mean someone could have a plate the size of Texas and assume that filling that plate is ok. Just my opinion.
I totally agree that Mrs. Obama is a rock star when it comes to obesity and really putting her words into actions.
I’m a really big fan of the new plate. While calling something an improvement on the Food Pyramid isn’t saying a lot, I think this is so much easier to understand. I also like that’s more vegetarian-friendly. I also like how simple and straightforward the language is on the landing page of the new Choose My Plate site. Here’s a link: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
I honestly don’t remember learning about the food guide pyramid when I was a child.
I like the idea of the new food guide plate. I think it will be easier for children and people with lower health literacy to understand. I know some people say that it makes them feel like they are being talked down to with the simplicity of this model but the considerations of all citizens needs to be taken into account. Another improvement is making the guide more vegetarian friendly! I think that it is kind of scary that there aren’t serving recommendations because some people might consider this as a free for all and load up some platter with food. lol.
I think that what needs even more focus is actually changing the foods that are being served to children in schools because they are definitely getting mixed messages when being served processed foods and french fries that are counted as vegetables.
I think it’s definitely an improvement, but not quite perfect. We certainly don’t need dairy–and perhaps would do better without it (and I find it interesting it’s in the shape of a milk glass–that’s an industry that has a lot of sway!). But it’s also great that fruit and veggies take over and that “sugar/sweets” are not even on the plate in moderation. A step in the right direction! Thanks for sharing!
I saw someone ask about where healthy fats would go and I guess I had kinda the same question, I guess. 🙂 I suppose pb or nuts would be in protein? Hmm.
I love it! I think the dairy drink is a bit odd, though, too…what is it to represent? calcium, vitamin d, and protein? hmmmmm
I really like this post a lot! The first thing I thought is that it looks like a lot of food, or not a lot, because it doesn’t say how much, just about equal for each category. And the dairy looks like it’s in a cup, and I never drink milk. Blech. And I don’t eat dairy at every meal.
As someone who works in nutrition and nutrition education, I am conflicted over this new image. It is better than the previous pyramid–which most people found confusing–but I still don’t really like it. All of the portions appear to be relatively equal (fruits/veggies/protein/grains) and it makes no mention of whole grains etc. I think that for “teaching” purposes, this will be more confusing, but it was definitely time for a change.
Courtney
YES!!! Just saw this! Kinda heart Mrs. O.
I think with curriculum being so test focused the food pyramid has gotten cut out of classroom time. Maybe during middle or high school health class but not in the elementary classroom (at least in the schools I’ve been in).
I like how easy it is to understand the plate. The whole pyramid thing should have been left to the Ancient Egyptians. My only wish is instead of dairy the cup said water.
I also have mixed feelings about this plate. I like the simplicity, but it might be too simple. Where does quinoa, for example, fall? It is a grain (seed), but also high in protein. Also, the absence of HEALTHY fats is glaring. That might be the number one ‘issue’ that people who are trying to eat healthy face. So many of my coworkers won’t even look at avocado or olive oil because they think it will make them fat.
While the pyramid is a great start, I really think that lack of education is biggest obstacle to overcome.
haha aww that is awesome a budding food blogger 🙂 I knew about it but never really paid attention, altough all the foods I ate happened to fit the pyramid model because I was so picky.
i heard about this on the news this morning, very cool. At least someone powerful is doing something to help with nutrition. Small step in the right direction 🙂
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