Did you hear? I realize that everyone’s life isn’t nutrition and food centric but there’s some pretty big news in my world. When I first read the news, on my Kindle as I sat in my in-laws kitchen, I wanted to cue Kool and the Gang. I wanted to celebrate. The food pyramid, my professional equivalent of my mother singing along (not quietly) at school concerts when I was younger, has been retired and replaced. What would succeed this “learning tool” telling Americans at one time to eat 6-11 servings of bread and pasta a day? It would be a “plate-shaped symbol” and we wouldn’t know more than that until the reveal on June 2nd.
Blogs and tweets were abuzz with speculation. What would it look like? Would it be similar to plate diagrams we already knew of? Would it be more user-friendly than the ridiculous pyramid? It has to be, right? Marion Nestle even posted other organization’s “plates” before the USDA announcement. Some of my colleagues headed down to Washington and the hashtag #foodicon seemed to be all over twitter.
I was working when the USDA unveiled the new logo. As soon as I had a break I opened my laptop, giddy with anticipation. I then sat there for a minute rather deflated. Was this plate (seen above) the USDA was suggesting bad? Nope not necessarily. Was it clear? You could say that. Was this going to really help Americans make better choices? Not so sure. I will preface my thoughts my saying that many experts are full of praise for the plate. I see where they are coming from. With people drowning in a sea of nutrition confusion anything clearly stated is welcome. And I’m happy that grains are no longer regarded as the largest component of our suggested diets. However, this plate, to me, is telling Americans “eat your fruits and vegetables” and I think we already know that.
There’s no mention of food quality. Is the grain on my plate to be a pop tart or quinoa? They’re both grains, right? Yes, the instructions accompanying the plate says “make at least half your grains whole grains”, does that meat ½ pop tarts and ½ quinoa? The same holds for protein, can I fit a 5 Guys Burger in ¼ of my plate? And what to do with combination foods? Do we dissect the said burger to put the various parts on their corresponding plate locations? Hmn.
I read one post that praised the plate, after all, it said, we all eat on plates. I actually think starting with “eat food on a plate” would be a good opener. We eat in our cars, we eat at our kitchen counters. Use plates, that would be good advice. What I’ve learned in almost 10 years owning Foodtrainers is that many people know what to do, it’s figuring out why they aren’t doing it. Andy Bellatti, who has guest posted here before, raised some great (and controversial) points on his blog yesterday. He said, “as long as people live in environments that are not conducive to making healthy decisions, can we really expect an illustration of a plate to achieve anything?” So true.
So MyPlate isn’t bad I’m just not sure it’s going to do that much. I’m still happy the pyramid is gone.
What do you think of MyPlate? Were you a fan of the pyramid? What do you feel was omitted? Do you always eat off of plates?
I actually find it innocuous. It's hard because in your world of nutrition, there are always caveats and portions and disclaimers to seemingly everything. A simple icon will never be able to tell the full story. Who knows, maybe in this virtual world in which we live, in the future each area of the plate can have a "drop-down" menu with all the required important information that seems to be left off : )
Innocuous isn't going to help the obesity epidemic. I guess you nailed it, an icon cannot tell the story and dumbing it down isn't going to accomplish much. I'd love to interview people on the street and see what they think…
I loved Andy Belatti's post and agree that there is a lot to be desired in "My Plate", but I also agree with Shari – that there really is no proper way to depict nutrition with an icon. I think the drop-down is a good idea!
I agree — I wasn't too pleased when I saw the "plate". It's better than they pyramid, in some ways, but I think it needs a lot more definition. An icon will simplify things, but it doesn't give us the whole picture. But, it is a relief not to be told to eat 12 slices of bread a day 🙂
I think the plate is an improvement, and I think people will respond to it better. I know we have have been told to eat more fruits and vegetables, but seeing it take up the largest portion of the plate, is a nice reminder. When I plan my meals, I always visualize my meals and make sure the biggest part is plants. Of course, as you pointed out, there are a lot of less than desirable foods in each category that people can choose… Maybe each portion should have some whole foods on it…
I'm actually wondering if the fruit part isn't a bit large? I think I would like to see the vegetable portion larger. I think so many people focus too much on the fruit portion in "fruits and vegetables" (which should be vegetables and fruits, I think) and not enough on vegetables.
Lauren, you make an excellent point about the lack of definition. How big is this plate supposed to be anyway? Plates are getting bigger and bigger and Americans are demanding portions in restaurants that fill the plates, which I think encourages over eating, particularly for people like my husband who was brought up to be a member of the clean plate club.
Thanks for commenting on my post about this topic. One of the reasons I love social media is that we get to have real conversations about these things, and all viewpoints are represented (instead of just the party line). I am happy to see the pyramid go, but I would have liked to see more specifics, maybe a list of ideas for each category in a drop-down form. Especially for grains, that part always seems to confuse people when refined grains and whole grains get equal billing.
I was thinking the same thing as Gayle – How big is this plate?
My initial reaction was that this is such an improvement from the confusing pyramid. But you raised some interesting points.
Some other thoughts….
1. Does this get to the people it needs to? And even if it does get to people it needs to, WHO in the world is going to change their eating habits based on a clip art picture that's not new or groundbreaking by any means?
2. Where are the healthy fats? Not including it at all only adds to the misconception that eating foods w/ fat makes you fat.
3. I agree with getting people to use plates in the first place. What about emphasizing cooking at home? cutting out processed foods? Looking at and being able to recognize ingredients on labels? I think that people need new ideas and new information. Bombarding them with the same old stuff obviously isn't working!
This is a step in the right direction, away from the pyramid, but it isn't anything to get too excited over. When I taught a City Harvest nutrition education course, the kids were most interested in the little man running up the side of the pyramid to represent activity. I don't see a little man circling this plate. Like you said, I also worry about how people will interpret the information without more specific info about what kind of grains, what kind of dairy, etc.
I am kind of one of those people of the street.:) I do agree with many of your points and think that the icon needs some education behind it. Even if there was writing on the side. At the same time, I think it is an improvement on the pyramid and makes it easier for the regular person to, at least, start to make better choices. My daughter is in a weight magmt program and we were given the same type of plate by the nutrititionist, it is 9 inches and divided. When we first started the program, it was just easier to know how much of each thing. As time went on, we talked more about portion sizes, but the plate was the start. I think that there should be follow ups to the plate but for those people that don't have access to the follow up conversations that may come out, at least, they have something to go buy. I don't know if the plate is dunbed down, I would call it simplified so it can reach more people.
I agree that MyPlate is lacking, and, as already mentioned, it is hard to get so much valuable information across in a simple icon. For those interested in health and nutrition, MyPlate is a no brainer, but I'm frequently surprised by people who really have no clue how to eat or just don't do it. Hopefully it will help.
However, I do think it can be a very useful tool for teaching children. When trying to help young children eat well, it's difficult for them to grasp much beyond the importance of eating from different food groups. I think MyPlate is a baby step in a better direction than the Food Pyramid.
I think it would be great to have follow-ups about food quality, healthy fats, more whole grains, and exercise! So many people think they can be healthy without exercise. It would be nice to see more of a lifestyle approach than simply diet alone.
I just read this post over a tupperware bowl veg lunch (sans fruit) 🙂 I see your "food quality" complaint and raise you this nation's "food desert" nightmare. This guideline is so vague, it might as well not exist….um… kind of like how whole grains and fresh produce don't exist in many poor rural and urban areas! What to do, what to do, "rewrite" the guideline, or really address the true food problem in this ridiculously RICH country??? They did the easiest thing, and left the people living in the deserts to fill in their grain portion with pop-tarts and I hate to even THINK about the protein and dairy. There are HUGE issues here, and I was sad yesterday to see that we get a flimsy and obvious plate to help guide is into "better eating habits", when really what a lot of people need is a map and cheap transportation to get wholesome and healthy food into their kitchens.
I definitely have to agree with you. I think it's a step in right direction, but still somewhat unclear. It's funny cause I use a plate similar to this in all my consults so it's not like it's anything new.
Hi Lauren,
I am so happy to read your post. I felt a bit guilty when I was so UN-excited about the revealing of the "plate." It seemed like everyone was so excited about it. While it may be a step in the right direction it doesn't represent a healthy diet. After all, you could fit a fast food hamburger (grains + protein), fries (vegetable), ketchup (fruit) and chocolate milk (dairy) on that plate.
I am just happy to read posts like yours and Andy's! Thank U!!
I liked the pyramid better. Not the US pyramid, but some from other countries that have water or exercise at the bottom.
I was truly shocked when I saw the plate. Is this for teaching nutrition to preschoolers?
And like some of you, I also thought about the typical American hamburger. Open it, put the meat in the plate, flatten the lettuce on the veggies space, ketchup in the fruit and the empty bun in the grains. I am sure it fits! Don't forget your sundae, same shape as the dairy.
Cracking up Natalie, you could use this for preschoolers. Now that I've had time to think about the plate I'm even more upset. The funds and media attention directed toward something that has so little potential to enact change even it isn't wrong or terrible.
Its a slight improvement but I really dont think its going to help all that much. Not to be negative but I think in general people are so confused as they are always being told "eat like this.." no.."eat like that.." That im not so sure what its going to do. I think it is better than the previous but I think education and some common sense are better tools. Instead of being so wrapped in how to eat…I think in general we should just focus on eating lots of fresh veggies and fruits, then proteins, grains and healthy fats. No sense in complicating it.
So I dont know, I have mixed feeling about it. We will see. Great topic as always! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
I agree chrysta, too much flip flopping. We just need to make it easier for people to eat well via ideas (recipes, availability etc). Good advice with food doesn't change. The plate makes eating sound so unappetizing too, I mean do we really think of food as chopped up into different groups? Sad.
Very disappointed (but not surprised) to see healthy fat is nowhere to be seen on the plate. Also question why fruit and grains have to be so prominently placed. Protein and veg (and healthy fats) is perfectly nutritious.
I think the issue is that people who don't eat healthy probably aren't going to see this…just like they didn't see or understand the food pyramid. I mean, if a working mom has 5 minutes a day to read something is she really going to try to figure out MyPlate? Probably not.
The government should have taken all the money they spent on figuring this stuff out to pioneer a nationwide, mandatory class for elementary school kids to learn how to eat properly!
The plate is too simplistic in its approach and thus not very useful. I like the idea of drop-downs Shari mentioned, and I agree with Ameena that spending on nutritional education for elementary schools would be far more beneficial.
MyPyramid is flawed… I have used it in counseling for years but while I love the tip pages they have on the website… I cant get on board with condensing an eating style. I think we should have ideas, and standards and lifestyle changes.. not a set recommendation! Ya know? I read too much Pollan =)
love you like woah! I'm glad you're not gung-ho on this either.. its just flawed. but its still got its heart in the right place!
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons