Moms Talk: The Food Pyramid has been Axed
Last week, Moms Councilmember Nichole Richardson asked, "When should a single parent think about having more children?" This week we discuss yesterday's announcement that a plate is replacing the food pyramid.
MyPlate
MyPlate is a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times, according to First Lady Michelle Obama.
USDA
Photos (1)
Photos
First lady Michelle Obama, announced Thursday that the food pyramid was no more.
Instead, a New York Times piece describes its replacement---a plate--as "unveiling a new, simpler image of a plate divided into basic food groups."
It's called MyPlate. The new design is considered a key aspect of first lady Obama’s campaign against obesity.
The plate is split into four sections for fruit, vegetables, grains and protein. A smaller circle sits beside it for dairy products.
“This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating,” said Mrs. Obama at a Thursday press release. “We’re all bombarded with so many dietary messages that it’s hard to find time to sort through all this information, but we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates.
"If the filled plate looks like the symbol, with lots of fruits and vegetables," she said, “then we’re good, it’s as simple as that."
MyPlate will take the place of the current USDA's Food Pyramid, which has been around since 1992 and was updated in 2005.
I'm not ashamed to say that I grew up with the original design and didn't know that it was revamped to what seemed like a more confusing chart. I personally don't think the original design was confusing at all. At the same time, I'm not upset with the change to a plate.
My questions to you are:
- Did you use or intend to use the food pyramid to explain healthy eating to your child or children?
- Do you think MyPlate is an easier method?
Loretta Parker
1:38 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
How much will the new food guide cost tax payers to print and ship to schools ?
rheaseo25
1:31 am on Monday, June 13, 2011
i think the graphic design is confusing, with the plate divided in make it hard to know the right percentage of nutrients the body needed and the dairy as a circle further complicates the sense of scale and proportions.
More of Graphic Design Ideas: http://www.raffles-iao.com/colleges/australia-sydney.html
Nichole Richardson
2:51 pm on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I like the look of the plate as opposed to the pyramid but I agree about not knowing how much of each group you're suppose to have. I probably won't be using the guide to teach my daughter though because I think it will be easier to explain with words and just explain that she needs fruits, veggies, dairy, meat, and bread to keep healthy. We may be overanalyzing this plate too since M. Obama stated "If the filled plate looks like the symbol, with lots of fruits and vegetables," she said, “then we’re good, it’s as simple as that."