On June 2, 2011, USDA recently released their new take on the infamous Food Guide Pyramid. Since 1916, USDA has released multiple charts, graphs, wheels, pyramids, and other images to encourage and educate on healthy food choices. The new icon is to be used to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate which includes fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy, the same food groups used on the previous pyramid. The icon comes out in conjunction with the recently revised and released 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and incorporates some of the new points of interest from that document.
The new image is called, MyPlate, and illustrates a colorful plate that is sectioned into four colors to indicate the food groups for fruits, vegetables, grains and protein. Along side the plate is a round circle representing the dairy group. The sections of the plate vary in size depending on the recommended portion of each food a person should eat.
The new icon is also paired with its own website www.ChooseMyPlate.gov , which gives consumers another resource to use to learn about nutrition and how to use this new method to make healthy choices on a daily basis. Over the next year, USDA will unveil another tool online that helps consumers to track and mange their personal dietary and activity goals.
Overall, the hope for the MyPlate image, is to give Americans tools that empower them to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families.
(Image above courtesey of http://www.myplate.gov/ )
No comments:
Post a Comment