A Plate Icon to Replace the Food Pyramid

by HealthfulMD

The USDA is replacing the Food Pyramid used for the last two decades as the food representation guide with an easier to understand plate designed to encourage healthy eating.

Out with the Food Pyramid

Since 1992 the United States has used a food pyramid to explain the types an amounts of foods that people should be eating.

In 2005 the USDA (U.S. Department Of Agriculture) released the revised version of the pyramid, MyPyramid.gov which was considered by many experts as hard to understand. 

In 2010 the White House's child obesity task force called for a food icon to help consumers make healthy food choices. A food plate, used by other countries as their food guide, will replace the food pyramid.

 

The USDA Food Pyramid

MyPyramid.gov
MyPyramid.gov

Read about the New Plate Icon

The USDA with Michele Obama unveiled the new Food Plate. The Food Plate replaces the old Food Pyramid as a quick and easy way to teach people what to eat and how to eat healthier.

ChooseMyPlate.gov

ChooseMyPlate.gov
The Official website for the new plate icon, MyPlate.

MyPyramid.gov

Steps to a Healthier You

MyPyramid.gov

In April 2005, the USDA released the new, revised MyPyramid food guidance system. It was designed and promoted to help Americans make healthy food choices and to be more active every day.

This was the pyramid included in the textbook and the pyramid taught to students and educators for the past 6 years. This was the pyramid that I have been teaching to my college students and students in my daughters classrooms.

MyPyramid.gov website has provided all of the latest news, information and resources for the USDA food guidance system (the pyramid). They have also provided a variety of free resources available for educating students, patients and clients about eating healthier.

The White House's child obesity task force called for a food icon to help consumers make healthy food choices.  As a result of this report, the USDA will be revealing the new food icon (a plate) replacing MyPyramid.gov as the government's main food group symbol.

With the pyramid being phased out, it is unclear what will happen to the website, resources or if they will be able to salvage 

MyPyramid.gov Website

MyPyramid.gov Website
The official website for the USDA's MyPyramid.gov (it is likely to be changing to something else soon).

Understanding the USDA Food Pyramid

With Dr. Mona Khanna, MD, MPH

The Healthy Eating Pyramid

My Favorite Food Pyramid

Healthy Eating Pyramid
The Healthy Eating Pyramid, built by the faculty in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, is an alternative the the USDA's pyramid. It is is a simple, trustworthy guide to choosing a healthy diet.

Change is Good for Health Promotion

 

"It’s going to be hard not to do better than the current pyramid, which basically conveys no useful information." 

Walter C. Willett  

Chairman Nutrition Department Harvard School of Public Health

Find out More about the New Food Pyramid - MyPlate

MyPlate - The New Food Pyramid
In June 2011 the Department of Agriculture introduced the new food icon, MyPlate.gov as a new food guide.

MyPlate Posters, Stickers and More
MyPlate materials, posters, pins, stickers, magnets and bookmarks that can be used when teaching nutrition.

MyPlate Coloring Pages
Find links to free, downloadable and printable MyPlate coloring pages.

Plate Method or MyPyramid

Compare the Two Methods
Comparing the Plate Method with MyPyramid
Comparing the Plate Method with MyPyramid

Debate the Changes to the Food Pyramid

What do you think about the Change in the Food Pyramid?
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Let's keep the Food Pyramid.
KathyMcGraw on 05/29/2011

Oh no, I was all ready to say the Plate Method until I saw how much room was for Vegetables. I'm OK with the Pyramid.

Change is good, especially with the Food pyramid.
ohme on 05/29/2011

I usually have a hard time with Change but this looks like a good one

JoyfulPamela on 05/29/2011

Thank you! The plate method makes so much more sense to me.

Jewelsofawe on 05/29/2011

I like the plate, but I was ok with the pyramid too, not the vertical one though.

Susan52 on 05/29/2011

The vertical pyramid makes no sense to me (I liked the horizontally-divided one) while the plate is very descriptive and relates to - a dinner plate! Looks like an obvious improvement to me.

Food Pyramid Changing to Shape of a Plate

From WiscTvChannel3000

Articles on the Changes to the Food Pyramid

More Information about the Changes to the Food Pyramid

Goodbye Food Pyramid, Hello Dinner Plate
The Obama administration is about to ditch the food pyramid, that symbol of healthy eating for the last two decades. In its place officials are dishing up a simple, plate-shaped symbol, sliced into wedges for the basic food groups and half-filled with fruits and vegetables.

Food Pyramid Gives Way To Food Plate, USA
For the last two decades the federal government has used the Food Pyramid as the basis for good nutritional advice, which never told people how much of which types of foods they should eat. The food pyramid is giving way to a simple, plate-shaped icon, which is sliced into portions for basic food groups - fruits and vegetables take up half the space.

Pyramid versus Plate: What Should the USDA's Food Chart Look Like?
Nutritionist Marion Nestle explains why the new dietary model should help Americans understand how to eat better--and how it could be better.

U.S. Government To Replace Food Pyramid With A New Food Icon
The federal government is scrapping the nearly 20-year-old food pyramid and replacing it with a new icon designed to more easily depict a healthy diet.

Farewell, Food Pyramid; Meet Your New $2 Million Replacement, a Plate
As of this coming Thursday, the food pyramid -- that symbol of healthy eating -- is going to go the way of the real pyramids and becoming a thing of the past. This week, the Obama administration will be unveiling a new graphic to tell American consumers what quantities of grains, fruits and vegetables, protein and dairy they should eat to maintain a healthy diet.

Food pyramid replacement coming June 2
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the replacement for the Food Pyramid will be announced on June 2 - and that the new icon heralds a "monumental effort" to improve America's health.

USDA to replace food pyramid with plate icon, source says
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning to swap in a plate icon for the food pyramid this week, an individual familiar with the new guidelines told CNN Saturday.

Forget the Food Pyramid -- a New Symbol Is Set to Take Its Place
The nearly 20-year-old representation of a healthy diet is about to give way to a new symbol: on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveils its replacement for the food pyramid.

The Plate Method

An Easy Way to Understand What to Eat

The Plate Method was originally developed to teach diabetic patients how much they should be eating from different food categories. It has become a succcessful way of teaching other people, even children about eating foods in different categories.

The Plate Method is the one that I have used for the past 5 years when teaching children in my daughters classrooms. I've taught children ranging from 1st through 5th grade about using the plate method when thinking about eating.

Even though the Nutrition textbook for the college course in nutrition teaches the food pyramid, for the last few years I've also used the Plate Method as a quick way to teach college students an easy way to understand how much to eat.

I've included an example of the handout that I use and a copy of the handout as a PDF file for those interested in downloading to use in classroom settings. 

 

Example of the Plate Method

© Kirsti A. Dyer
Plate Method Used for Teaching Children
Plate Method Used for Teaching Children

More on the Plate Method

Learn More about the Plate Method of Eating
The plate method is an easier way than the old pyramid to teach children and adults, about what to eat and how much to eat. Using the plate method will help you eat healthier.

Healthy Eating with "The Plate Method"

From LiveWell UCSD

Books with More on the Plate Method

The Portion Plan: How to Eat the Food...
DK ADULT
$13.17  $12.09
The Full Plate Diet: Slim Down, Look ...
Bard Press
$15.72  $13.99
The Portion Teller Plan: The No Diet ...
Broadway
$14.99  $13.49

Healthier Food Plate

This Food Collage may be happy, but it is a little light on food
Food Collage: Face Made from Banana, Chili & Tomatoes on Plate

Divided and Portion Control Dishes

Use these Plate to Make Eating Healthy Easier
Corelle Livingware 10-1/4-Inch Divide...
Corelle
$14.49  $9.99
9" FOCUS Portion Control Plate, Micro...
Precise Portions
Portion Control Plate, 10" White Plastic
AH

News on the Change in the Food Pyramid

Is there a new food pyramid? What you need to know about MyPlate  Nebraska Medicine
Healthy Living Guide 2023/2024 | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health  HSPH News
Nostalgia and nutrition: The dark forces behind the '90s food pyramid  Daily Kos
Food Pyramid Being Replaced With Plate-Shaped Logo  The New York Times

Remember You Are What You Eat

Eat the Healthy Stuff
You Are What You Eat Poster Laminated Poster Print, 18x24
AllPosters.com
Only $20.00
Updated: 01/18/2012, HealthfulMD
 
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Thoughts on the Change in the Food Pyramid

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Simon on 07/04/2011

I like the simple idea - it brings quite a lot of knowledge in an understandable way. However, I noticed, even if you know exactly what's good for you, it's not necessarily easy to get it! E.g. whole grain food is either hard to get in the US or it's really expensive. The same goes for a lot of healthy food: In contrast to fast food, it's not only harder to get, but usually it's way too expensive.
Also the temptation for fast food is - simply put - "huge". You find it not only at each corner, but several offers at each corner :-P
My girlfriend and me were traveling through California/Arizona/Utah last year, and despite we know what we like to eat, it proved to be quite difficult *for us* to find it.

Cheers and thanks for the interesting article!

HealthfulMD on 05/30/2011

It has been really quick and easy to teach to kids. I am working on getting another page up on the Plate Method. Keep watching for a new article.

ohme on 05/29/2011

Thank you for this great information on the Food Pyramid

JoyfulPamela on 05/29/2011

I really like this! It is simple and easy to remember. I certainly will be sharing this with my family and friends. : )

irenemaria on 05/29/2011

Pyramid or not. Green has always been marzipan cake for me =D

Comfortdoc on 05/29/2011

Paul
I'd better be passionate about the topic, since I've been teaching Nutrition for 7 years now. :)

pkmcr on 05/29/2011

Incredibly informative and written with an obvious passion for your subject - really found it interesting thank you.

Susan52 on 05/29/2011

Great article! I like the decorative portion plates, too.

KathyMcGraw on 05/29/2011

Excellent, and I like the decorative portion plates. It's only recently I am starting to eat healthier, so this was good for me. Not saying I will use 1/2 the plate for veggies though :)

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