Should MyPlate be Your Plate?

I'm impressed by this pyramid. It makes a lot more sense than anything I've seen before. I'm also amazed that it recommends a multivitamin. It's always been a standard of nutrition teaching that if you eat right, you don't need vitamins. I'm pleased to see movement from Harvard, if not from any other teaching organization.

Vel

The difference is the targeted audience. Anyone can understand the plate in 3 seconds or less, whereas the pyramid would require thinking, which isn't everyone'c cup of tea.

E

E got it right - they are trying to make it simpler to understand, so the plate works. I like the wine on the Harvard pyramid though!

Mia

I get what the USDA was trying to do. But something bothers me... Someone could eat canned fruit in syrup, white rice, chocolate milk, steak, and fried zucchini and believe they are eating healthy because they have "followed" the recommendations according to the picture. The Harvard healthy eating pyramid is MUCH better (and probably one of the best I've seen) but I agree with E, those who don't care to read it, won't spend the time to look at it and properly use it.

Sarah

The plate is way easier to understand. I think that people who are not well versed in nutrition (and heck, people who ARE well versed in nutrition) will have a hard time trying to figure out the pyramid. What does it even mean? there are no recommended servings per day, there are no values, there is no guidance on how to build a healthy meal or snack. Since the (food) base of the pyramid is veggies and fruit, fats, and grains does that mean i can neglect the other food groups? Teaching people how to build a plate and then educating on how to improve their choices for each food group seems to be the more logical way to me. I think the plate is a great start for teaching young children about healthy eating. It's not perfect, but it's a start! And yeah, ditch the fork.

R.

I like that the Harvard pyramid included exercise. The government tried exercise in their last pyramid, then ditched it! And if you filled up a regular dinner plate with that much food, it would be way too big of a meal, so I like the Harvard pyramid portion control base.

Marisa H

I kind of like the new MyPlate. No, it doesn't address the exercise issue, but to me that's something else kind of different. The MyPlate is useful when you go to sit down to eat. But they didn't even really need a plate, they could've just typed :"1/2 plate fruit or veggies." And saved a lot of money on color printing :)

Katie @ Nutrition in a peanut shell

Honestly I think the plate looks like it was made for a 5 year old, with all it's bright colors and lack of any information whatsoever...

Cristina @ An Organic Wife

Thank you for sharing this! When MyPlate came out, I thought it was too simplistic and missing some major points! Something that sticks with me is the "Dairy" label on MyPlate. It's not DAIRY that we need -- it's calcium. I linked to the blog article that I co-wrote with one of the nurses here at FCHP. Thanks for the tips to the different (and better!) food guides!

-Katie

Katie

I just spent a few weeks in Hawaii (i know, lucky me). Where I was feasting on Mangos, pineapples, papayas, bananas, nuts and avocados. I ate well and did a lot of paddle boarding, snorkeling and swimming. I came home 5 pounds lighter! Eating lot's of Fruit and vegetables before rice and meat/fish works! (ps I'm over 40 yrs)

Goldie nam

Ditto Sarah in you just don't know what people put on their fruits and veggies - could be canned fruit, could be veggies drowned in some fake cheese or other fatty sauce, stuff sauteed in oil...

I also don't see people going to the trouble of reading and following that pyramid but I do like it better.

Lourdes

This is a little misleading. The Healthy Pyramid from Harvard isn't a response to the plate. They developed that pyramid several years ago. IMO, the plate is better in that it demonstrates that veggies and fruits should be the bulk (no pun intended) of the plate in front of you. I disagree with the dairy thing. For the general public, we need something super simple. For people who then want more info, we need something more detailed.

Lyn

People who think MyPlate is too simplistic probably don't do any nutrition education. As a registered dietitian I know that the average person knows very little about healthy eating. For the health conscious consumer who wants to dive deeper there is more info on the USDA's website. However, most people would do themselves a tremendous benefit to eat 1/2 fruits and veggies, even if they didn't change anything else!

Sara

I also think the "dairy" is there as a support for US dairy farmers and not necessarily a diss to calcium. After all, eggs are considered dairy and are a source of protein.

I am not offended by the fork, but think they should have stuck to a plate alone. I think the fork is fine... I understand being PC and maybe it shouldn't have a utensil at all. I don't think we need to include every single eating utensil used by Americans these days. :)

Veronica

I'm not sure...I'm very impressed with the pyramid for being very detailed, yet to the average Joe (or Betty, or Jane/John Doe), the MyPlate is the overall sort of thing. All you need to know is veggies, fruits, whole grains, dairy, & protein (although, Americans do get MORE protein than they need because of the consumption of meat). So the MyPlate is very simple. I like both charts..

Kathy

Liking the Harvard pyramid. They're quite clever those chaps and chapesses aren't they.

Neilon

when I first saw the myplate I had to think where's the healthy fats? Or is that too specific or do they think the "common mind" immediately thinks fats = bad?

B

I love your recommedation about dropping the fork:-) Myplate recommendation is just recommendation of Western diet with more fruits and veggies. Harvard pyramid is better, but I have also seen pyramids from Mayo clinic for Asian and Mediterranean diets as well.

Satish @ health on budget

I like the plate. I learned about the food pyramid in elementary school so I assume they are going to teach this plate to elementary school students. The plate is a great visual for kids (and adults) to see and understand. Now if only my husband would bother to learn what foods make up each food group!

And maybe I'm too ego-centric but I like the fork, too. It completes the look. This is a USA guideline for Americans and while I understand some first-generation immigrants might not use forks, their kids probably do.

The Harford pyramid is nice if you're into nutrition but as others have commented, most people aren't.

I haven't reseached it but I bet canned peaches in syrup is healthier than french fries and it would be a positive step if Americans would change their lunch side to canned fruit or even sweetened applesauce instead of fries.

sallyjrw

I'm glad to see someone else does not like the new "plate" representation. I personally preferred the old pyramid, and I like Harvard's even better. But to get the point across to my children, I follow these simple guidelines: get adequate sleep, plenty of fresh air and sunshine, play every chance you get, and eat when you're hungry.

When eating, try to eat foods that are "whole," "fresh," "unprocessed," and as close to "fresh from the garden" as possible. My husband and I were at odds about making our children eat "at mealtime" and always cleaning their plate, until our daughter (8yo) started bringing home stories about girls in her class who are **dieting**. We want no part of DIETS, as the term so commonly refers, in our house. OUR DIET is simply what we eat--nothing more, nothing less.

mommyof4