The NEW Food Pyramid?

Have you wondered where the ever-familiar Food Guide Pyramid from your elementary school days has gone? Or what this new plate symbol you’ve been seeing means? The United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate was unveiled on June 2, 2011 as the symbol of nutritional guidelines replacing the Food Guide Pyramid and is based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. So how does MyPlate compare to the old Food Guide Pyramid and what does it actually mean for your daily intake?

The goal behind the new design was to more simply communicate the recommendations found in the Guidelines. The plate design is thought to be more useful to Americans in their everyday lives, a reference that can easily be compared to one’s own plate to assess whether or not the Guidelines are being adhered to. The proportions of the food groups on the plate, approximately 30 percent grains, 30 percent vegetables, 20 percent fruits and 20 percent protein, with a smaller circle representative of dairy, effectively communicate that half of one’s plate should consist of fruits and vegetables at a given meal. This ratio differs significantly from the average American’s intake and changing patterns to more closely match the MyPlate recommendations has been shown to improve a variety of health outcomes.

Critics of the plate cite its inclusion of a separate protein group and lack of mention of physical activity as problematic. While it is true that most Americans meet or exceed the daily recommendation of 15 – 20% of energy intake from protein, the group still warrants inclusion to show the proper proportion of protein in relation to the rest of the food groups. The MyPlate symbol does not include anything about physical activity, but its accompanying website, www.choosemyplate.gov, provides tips and information on becoming more active.

Overall the MyPlate icon is a more user-friendly graphic than the previous MyPyramid. However, an individual’s specific needs cannot be determined from a general recommendation such as this one. For assistance on making changes to one’s own habits, it is best to consult with a registered dietitian to develop an individualized plan. In the meantime, making sure your plate matches the MyPlate image at mealtimes is a great start to meeting your nutritional needs!


Love this article? Go to searchmycity.com to find more articles about the best ways to eat healthy, and even some great restaurants!


- Holly Pudwill, MS, RD, LD/N, CEDRD Balanced Nutrition of Jacksonville