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Will you make the change?
Remember the food pyramid? It was hard to miss that colorful, triangle-shaped diagram on the back of cereal boxes, printed in health books, and posted in the halls of clinics. Well, the food pyramid is no more. It is history. The food pyramid has given way to a new plate MyPlate, to be specific.
The change had been expected for a while, and it became official on June 2 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out the new design, with the help of first lady Michelle Obama, the Surgeon General (Regina Benjamin), and the Secretary of Agriculture (Tom Vilsack). Now, with a fresh approach and clean look, MyPlate is the standard for dietary proportions.
Why the change?
- Easier to Understand. MyPlate is simpler and easier to understand than the pyramid. MyPlate gives parents, dietitians, meal planners, and individuals an easy-to-use guide. As one nutritionist explained “It answers the simple question, ‘What should my plate look like at any given meal?’”
- Better Proportions. Looking at the plate, it’s easy to see that the entire left side is fruits and vegetables. One goal of the redesign was to communicate the importance and proportions of fruits and vegetables. In the former pyramid plan, food proportions looked more like stripes than segments. How much food is a stripe? MyPlate provides a more accurate picture by sketching out areas on a plate.
While this is a move in the right direction, it’s not perfect. For example, if you’re looking at MyPlate, it’s easy to think that the plate image represents an ideal proportion size for every meal. In reality, few if anyone gets the proportions right for every meal. Another issue is that the plate doesn’t indicate exactly what we should be eating. Proteins? What’s that? Although the simplicity of MyPlate is terrific, it begs for additional explanation and understanding. Also, MyPlate it not necessarily prescriptive of a healthy diet; it is also reflective of what Americans tend to eat in general. Some people take issue with the fact that the food pyramid recommends protein and dairy portions, whereas much dietary research indicates the superiority of a vegan or vegetarian diet.
In my opinion, people should include at least one serving of legumes per day, and while this may fall under ‘protein,’ it is not spelled out. And, many people benefit from limiting or avoiding grains. Overall, it’s important to realize that there is not one diet that works for everyone.
Be that as it may, it looks like MyPlate is going to be around for a while.
It is important to step back and take a new look at the whole goal behind it all. Why is there such a thing as a food pyramid or a MyPlate? Fundamentally, it’s about improving health and well-being.
What about you?
How should you change your diet in the light of new diet research and findings? Here are some suggestions:
- What one fruit can I add to my breakfast?
- What is an easy way to increase one serving of vegetables at lunch? Pick one vegetable now.
- What is the one area of MyPlate in which I am overeating? Now, can I cut it from my diet?
- How is my portion size? What is the best way to reduce portions if I’m eating too much? Pick a meal, and cut my typical portion in half.
- What one meal of the day can I concentrate on and put some effort toward, in order to make sure that I’m getting sufficient fruits and vegetables?
By Dr. Trevor Cates, KeyVive Expert, Naturopathic Doctor
For more health tips, visit www.DrTrevorCates.com or follow Dr. Cates on facebook (Dr. Trevor Cates) and twitter (@DrTCates)
