Hello Dinner Plate, Goodbye Food Pyramid

by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom

If you’ve found earlier versions of the food pyramid confusing, you’re not alone. The federal government has spent about 3 years, and nearly $3 million dollars to develop a “snapshot” for daily nutrition advice on healthy eating. A new icon – a circular plate (with a small circle signifying dairy) – is meant to change the way we think about food choices. It’s based on how a dinner plate should look when filled with food.

Unveiled last Thursday, the plate is a real eye opener for many people. About half the plate is labeled for fruits and vegetables, with one-quarter of the plate for protein, and the remaining one-quarter for grains. Dairy products are represented as a small circle beside the plate. While that might suggest a glass of milk, it can also be plain yogurt or cheese (choose low or non-fat products).

Detailed advice on this new approach is available at ChooseMyPlate.gov. This is a giant improvement over the old pyramid (for example, what is the significance of that little man dancing up the side??), and definitely provides an easy-to-use visual of the food groups you want to include daily. Foods. It doesn’t have much info about the types of foods nor the amounts; but you can find this on ChooseMyPlate.org. And it’s important to check out the site, for specific guidelines of what to eat. It’s also a great teaching tool, especially for busy families. It is definitely a practical framework from which to begin a healthy meal plan.

While it IS a challenge in the fruit and veggie department – most people are eating no more than 25% of their plate in produce – this new emphasis on fruits and vegetables is a way to get people at least thinking about ways to boost their intake to the recommended 50%. And food manufacturers are supporting this idea, and are working to develop additional healthier products on the shelves.

Do you like this approach? Pro-plate or pro-pyramid? Post your opinion!