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Move Over Food Pyramid, Here Comes MyPlate

Remember the food pyramid? Scratch that! Now you need to remember the food plate.

For over 100 years the USDA has been trying to make nutritional recommendations, starting with a Farmers Bulletin in 1916 entitled "Food for Young Children."

The new food icon called "MyPlate" is literally a plate. Like the old pyramid, it emphasizes the necessity of daily servings of vegetables, fruits, grains, protein and dairy, but it also strives to make portion size more of an important factor when deciding what to eat.

The Perfect Geometry?



According to the USDA, the new icon attempts to balance calories while increasing good foods and reducing bad foods. You should "enjoy your food, but eat less," "avoid over sized portions" and "make half your plate fruits and vegetables."

According to First Lady Michelle Obama, the guiding force behind the Let's Move! campaign, "As long as [our plates are] half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we're golden."

A Lot On Their Plate



The USDA is using social media to get the new, more artistic and attractive plate out there.

For more information, check the MyPlate Twitter feed for daily advice about staying healthy. The USDA has also created interactive tools that will help people manage their weight and track daily exercise.

Read More:



  • USDA replaces food pyramid with ‘MyPlate' in hopes to promote healthier eating (The Washington Post)
  • Food pyramid out, ‘My Plate' in for healthy eating (The Washington Times)
  • MyPyramid Food Guide Under Attack Once More (Earth Eats)


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