Nutrition Pyramid Nixed, USDA Launches New Plate Graphic

So long, food pyramid.

Today, First Lady Michelle Obama helped introduce the government's new food icon. And it's a plate.

The new graphic is split into four sections: fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins, with a small side of dairy.

Federal officials hope it will serve as a simple "how-to" for making food choices by providing a clear breakdown of what our plates should look like.

"When a mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we're already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew," the first lady said in a press release. "So it's tough to be a nutritionist, too. But we do have time to look at our kids' plates."

The new food plate graphic replaces the Food Guide Pyramid, first launched in the early 1990s, then revamped in 2005. It reflects the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which promote measures like avoiding oversize portions, switching to fat-free or low-fat milk and opting for water over sugary drinks.

The first lady broke it down even further.

"As long as [our plates are] half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we're golden," she said. "That's how easy it is."

Comments

[Palitra Pitania]

01:22 AM on 08/02/2011

Such a nice new logo for healthy food. Already by the way exists in the plate format in the UK. In the view of Palitra Pitania the MyPlate system though is oversimplified. People should try to understand what is healthy food and the MyPyramid system is not too difficult to understand. People really should invest in their health and also try to eat right. The oversimplification of the MyPlate logo is not a step forward. http://www.palitra-pitania.ru/2011/06/myplate-gov_eng/?lang=en

[Saritabonitas]

05:31 PM on 06/08/2011

Where's the cupcake slot? LOL J/K Before comments jump all over this.

[golden1953]

03:20 PM on 06/08/2011

I believe that our First Lady has the best of intentions. But, saying "As long as [our plates are] half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we're golden," is just not the way to help Americans. This aversion to healthy fats is not based on good science. And, whole grains are marginally better than more processed ones for most people. Grains should be eaten sparingly instead of fat. There are some good recommendations that come along with MyPlate, but too much of it is still too much of the wrong macronutrients (carbs!)

[ThomasPaine1776]

02:45 AM on 06/08/2011

Same lies, different shape.

"Protiens" is code for dead animal flesh. There is no biological, medical or nutritional need to eat dead animals. In fact, there is every reason NOT to, the most obvious of which is that it is bad for your health.

"Dairy" is also another example of the corruption of government. Government corrupted, in this case by the Dairy Council, which is a businessmens club. There is no need to drink the mammary lactation of another species. It's bizarre, unhealthy, cruel to the cow and the little calf who is taken away and murdered so that humans can steal the milk intended for him, and totally unnecessary.

Other than that, they've done a good job, pointing out to us dumb Americans how to eat.

[French Toast]

08:37 AM on 06/08/2011

"It's bizarre, unhealthy, cruel to the cow"

If no one bought any cattle products, cows would become extinct. As it happens, this already potentially happens to breeds that fall out of favor anyway.

There are a thousand ways to laugh and write off your hyperbole. That one is the one that amuses me the most.

[jumbotron16]

10:26 AM on 06/09/2011

Better extinct than exploited! :)

[Levi Wilson]

01:01 AM on 06/07/2011

Honestly, this new food recommendation plate is so meaningless that the USDA should stop recommending foods altogether. Or put up one icon that says "Eat Whole Unprocessed Real Food." That is all.

[raker]

06:45 PM on 06/05/2011

The nutrition icon should be a donut divided into the four major food groups: glazed; powdered, frosted, and sprinkles—with a cup of coffee to drink.

[LawrenceWoller]

05:11 PM on 06/05/2011

The new Dietary Guidelines is improved, but is still has been seriously crippled by the all powerful food lobbies!

Please Notice what is still missing by most probably conscious FDA choice that would have made it absolutely clear what we all have do to make the needed major food lifestyle changes and not bankrupt the government in rising health care costs from nutrition related diseases.

There is a hint in the quote of the first lady below on exactly what 3 key adjectives were most certainly intentionally deleted from the new Dietary Guidelines food graphic.

Puzzler Hint:

The first lady said, "As long as [our plates are] half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we're golden," she said. "That's how easy it is."

For those of you having a tough time with this puzzler LOL, here are the three key words that make all the difference in the world:

WHOLE grains,
LEAN proteins and
LOW FAT Dairy.

These three critical adjectives still missing from the simple "improved" graphic scream lobbyist success for the the junk food corporations.

Best,

Lawrence

[Levi Wilson]

12:59 AM on 06/07/2011

I think the dairy icon is a bit redundant since that obviously goes in the protein category. I would also add a FAT category.

Of course, the reason it doesn't say "LEAN proteins" is because the icon isn't making a distinction between animal proteins and plant proteins. It should.

[zenman2]

04:16 PM on 06/07/2011

what's with the dairy. Whole milk is for cows not humans. How about some more hormones , like we don't get enough in the meat.

[jumbotron16]

10:27 AM on 06/09/2011

What about the delicious cheeses humans have been making for thousands of years? Just a big "oops"?

[lapapa caliente]

10:46 AM on 06/05/2011

This is more of the same. Didn't change a thing. Grains and milk are proteins, so proportionally is recommending too much. Unnecessary. This is the perfect plate to feed cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.

[ThomasPaine1776]

02:47 AM on 06/08/2011

yep. T. Colin Campbell, "THE CHINA STUDY" should be in charge of the FDA.

[jumbotron16]

10:28 AM on 06/09/2011

Biggest LOL of the day! Thank you for that!

[peskime]

12:29 PM on 06/09/2011

Amen.

[media4me2]

04:41 AM on 06/05/2011

Somebody didn't get the memo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394099/Obama-eats-2-chili-dogs-fries-day-wife-Michelle-unveils-new-dietary-guide.html

Might be frying pan upside the head time.

[French Toast]

08:41 AM on 06/08/2011

And how obese is President Obama?

[jumbotron16]

10:31 AM on 06/09/2011

Two factors are preventing Obama from achieving a normal level of American obesity:
1) he's physically active
2) he probably practices "portion control"

[brownfrown]

03:44 PM on 06/04/2011

Just another graphic to print on the McDonald's tray-liner papers

[deepintheheartoftejas]

02:55 PM on 06/04/2011

Looking over their fruit and vegetable lists... they include technical fruits like tomatoes, eggplants, chiles, and avocados as vegetables. I would say the "fruit" portion is too big. It contains primarily sweet fruits, most of which are far removed from their original wild varieties. I enjoy fruits in season: tart apples in the fall, cherries in late spring, citrus in late fall, but apart from those I eat almost no fruits--by their definition.

[deepintheheartoftejas]

02:19 PM on 06/04/2011

Bleagh, the new guidelines recommend switching to "fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk". I find reduced fat milk disgusting. You might as well be drinking milk from a can with the fat-free. Vat-pasturized (or unpasteurized if you like, but I find little difference between it and vat pasteurized), non-homogenized is the way to go. But, like in all things, IN MODERATION.

I'd rather drink water than have low-fat milk. And I'd rather eat cardboard than eat Kraft non-fat cheese singles.

[klbrz]

11:26 PM on 06/04/2011

When I was growing up, my parents bought powdered milk. Ugh. When I went to visit my grandparents, who had their milk delivered, their *whole* milk, I was in heaven. My grandfather would set a note out with the bottles that his grand daughters were visiting. The delivery guy knew this meant to leave lots more milk.

[zenman2]

04:18 PM on 06/07/2011

stupidity

[chaya]

12:36 PM on 06/04/2011

This is great. My congratulations to the First Lady for getting it done right.

[media4me2]

04:43 AM on 06/05/2011

Somebody ain't paying attention to her tripe.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394099/Obama-eats-2-chili-dogs-fries-day-wife-Michelle-unveils-new-dietary-guide.html

[Pennsanic]

03:01 PM on 06/06/2011

Weren't you the same media4me2 posting e-sputum about 'arugula salads' during the election?

[Leanne Serrato]

04:39 PM on 06/03/2011

I like it but am concerned that it doesn't have the exercise component which was added in 2005. It also has nothing in there about oils, fats and sugars etc. We all know they should be used sparingly (or do we??) but amounts would be helpful.

[Dave Abed]

01:35 PM on 06/03/2011

Love that my VitaTops still fit into the pyramid - 8g whole grain with protein, fiber and 100 calories. Plus they are shaped like a plate, so I think I get extra points:)