The food pyramid, the iconic representation of a balanced diet, has been replaced by an iconic symbol of a plate to represent the primary food groups.
As a crucial part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign against obesity, she has replaced the traditional food pyramid with a new design called “My Plate.” The plate will be used in a campaign to educate customers on healthy eating habits.
The Food Pyramid
The food pyramid has represented a healthy diet for over twenty years. According to the article, “No More Food Pyramid: Nutritional Icon is Now a Plate’, the original pyramid included the four food groups stacked in a pyramid representing the amount of recommended servings one should eat from each group in a day. The widest part of the pyramid displayed the foods, such as bread, cereals, and grains, that should make up the most significant part of one’s diet. In addition, foods containing more fat were displayed at the top of the pyramid.
In 2015, the USDA revised the pyramid. The new pyramid expanded the number of food groups to include six. It also depicted a person walking up steps on the side of the pyramid to emphasize the need for physical exercise.
Nutrition experts are pleased that both versions of the food pyramid have been replaced with “My Plate.” They believe that the pyramids were complicated and sometimes difficult to understand.
The Nutrition Plate
According to William Neuman’s article, “Nutrition Plate Unveiled, Replacing Food Pyramid,” the new iconic symbol of a balanced diet, “My Plate,” was created by the Agriculture Department with suggestions and input from the first lady’s anti-obesity campaign and from federal health officials. About 4,500 individuals, including youngsters, were interviewed for the plate.
“My Plate” is divided into four parts. One section is for fruit, one for vegetables, and one for grains and protein. In addition, a smaller circle is depicted beside the plate to represent dairy products.
Using a metal plate as a model, the anti-obesity campaign’s initial step aims to convince people to eat half their dishes of fruits and veggies. Consumers will be able to prevent overeating in the campaign’s latter stages. The objective is to motivate individuals to consume less food while still enjoying their cuisine. After a while, customers will be urged to drink water instead of sugary
In conclusion, nutritionists have praised the plate symbol for being more accessible for the food consumer to understand than the food pyramid. In an easy-to-understand way, it emphasizes balancing calories by avoiding oversize portions, increasing healthier food choices, and decreasing less healthy food choices.