Say good-bye to that confusing food pyramid! The USDA has just replaced the mind-boggling food pyramid with what they are calling the food "plate."
To answer what might be your first question, yes it really is as easy to use as it looks!
The food plate is very simple in design. You portion your meal according to the divisions for the five food groups represented on the food plate icon. The plate itself is divided into four colored sections, representing fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein. Therefore, half of your plate is reserved for fruits and vegetables, while the other half is devoted to grains and protein. The fifth group, the dairy products, are shown as a smaller circle in the upper right hand corner of the plate.
The American Medical Association (AMA) even commented on how the food plate, "...clearly presents what a healthy meal should look like and makes it easier for people to translate food group recommendations directly onto their plates. The clearer emphasis on portion size and quantity is particularly important for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.”
For more information and tips, visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/. You will find many techniques to get you on track to better health, including ways to enjoy food, eat less, make at least half of your grains whole grains, and monitor sodium in the foods you buy.
After years of pushing the food pyramid aside, this new food plate may finally make proper nutrition a realistic goal for us all!
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