The new icon for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is out!
The new My Plate logo is designed to help busy American’s make easy choices. Instead of trying to navigate all of the information in the previous Food Guide Pyramid, these visual cues are ones that can be put in place immediately. It’s much easier to understand what your dinner plate should look like, then to determine if you’re eating the right proportion. Several key consumer messages are big changes from previous years.
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
- Make at least half your grains whole grains.
- Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.
- Vary your protein choices.
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
- Enjoy your food, but eat less.
These new consumer messages are much more clear and easy for all American’s to interpret. The new website also includes the option to create a personalized daily food plan.
There are certainly some criticisms of the new model. One being that it no longer includes a visual physical activity component. The previous MyPyramid logo featured a person walking up the stairs, to indicate the importance of a healthy diet and activity. The new plate also does not include a section about added fats or sugars, which may be a positive feature.
It’s important to remember that this messaging needs to fit a wide variety of Americans and there is no perfect solution. I think some big advances were made by creating a visual cue to show the amount of fruits and vegetables someone should eat. This is not going to be a single solution to the obesity epidemic, but it is a good step forward.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s slightly different from Canada’s which is half veggies, 1/4 protein, 1/4 grain, with a piece of fruit and glass of milk on the side.
But I think it’s an improvement from the pyramid.
I saw this on the news this morning! Sort of love it- easier to visualize how the plate should look…
How did we not come up with something simple like this years ago?
I did a project for my communications class in college, and we creating plates with nutrition guidelines printed on the bottom! I think it does give people a way better visual.
My doctor has always told me my plate should be 25% protein and 75% veggies haha. She basically said I could vary in grains/starches and fruits, but most of the time that’s how it should look. What a difference, huh?
I’ve been seeing this all over the place lately…I think it’s a lot more clear as a plate than a pyramid…no one eats off a triangle.
I hope it helps people!