USDA Flattens the Pyramid
On June 2nd the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) unveiled the new plate to guide healthy eating for Americans. It’s a timely replacement for the old food pyramid and a welcome change for nutrition educators. Gone are the awkward hierarchies associated with the pyramid. Enter the synergy of food groups in recommended portions neatly woven into the recognizable image of the plate.
Here are a few ways to flatten your food pyramid and embrace the plate model for dietary guidelines. The key recommendations by USDA include:
Enjoy your food, but eat less;
Avoid oversized portions;
Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables;
Make at least half of your grains whole grains;
Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk;
Compare sodium in soup, bread and frozen meals and choose the foods with lower numbers;
Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
The new site choosemyplate.gov has now been launched – check it out!