Goodbye Food Pyramid, Hello MyPlate
Sasha Tolbert, Jacqueline Sandoval
Leilehua High School
February 24, 2015
GOODBYE FOOD PYRAMID, HELLO MYPLATE 1
Table of Contents
Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 2
What’s New? ............................................................................................................................... 3
The Website................................................................................................................................. 4
Multiple Languages ...................................................................................................................... 5 Application in Schools .................................................................................................................. 5 How Can It Help? ......................................................................................................................... 6 References ................................................................................................................................... 8 Appendix..................................................................................................................................... 9 GOODBYE FOOD PYRAMID, HELLO MYPLATE 2 Abstract The First Lady, Michelle Obama, has teamed up with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a new nutrition guide called MyPlate (refer to Appendix A1). The old Food Pyramid (refer to Appendix B) was considered out of date and communicated too many nutrition facts at once. The new graphic is simple and easier for students and adults to interpret. It is much easier for children, and anyone who is not a nutrition expert, to understand how big or small their portion sizes should be when their guide is also a plate. Schools have also gotten on board with this new helpful graphic. With upgraded menus to reflect MyPlate’s standards, kids are now receiving the correct portion sizes during their breakfasts and lunches. The USDA has also created a new website that contains sections for parents, young adults in college, and teachers’ planning lessons. The website includes MyPlate in different world languages to accommodate people who don’t speak English. As more and more people migrate to America, it is important that they feel accepted, and that their kids are not being left out. Now, there is a way for parents whose first language is not English to provide their kids with the proper nutrition that is recommended. MyPlate’s main goal is to ensure children are healthy, and by following these new nutrition guidelines presented by MyPlate, the obesity epidemic should rapidly decrease, as long as Americans stick with it, and make healthy decisions. GOODBYE FOOD PYRAMID, HELLO MYPLATE 3 What’s New? In 2011, MyPlate (refer to Appendix A1) replaced the Food Pyramid (refer to Appendix B). This transformation has made it easier for Americans to read and understand nutritional guidelines. MyPlate represents a healthier diet focusing on the importance of fruits and vegetables. As the obesity rate increases overtime, we need different and updated methods to decrease it, and MyPlate does just that. MyPlate is short, to the point, and easier to individualize, as opposed to trying to communicate too many nutritional facts like the Food Pyramid. …show more content…
There are also charts and printable guides that you can use for meal planning and health guides and a section where you can get personalized guidelines based on age, weight, and activity level. There is even a section called “10 Tips Nutrition Education Series” (refer to Appendix C). Here they offer things for college students such as tips about eating on a budget and staying fit on campus. The website is centered around helping Americans plan for a healthier and more nutritional lifestyle. MyPlates’ introduction to physical activity tips was its way of not only encouraging a healthy dietary lifestyle, but also physical lifestyle. According to recent surveys done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans do not eat the proper amount of fruit and vegetables (Majority of Americans not Meeting Recommendations for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, 2009). MyPlates’ combination of health guides and physical activity tips will surely contribute to America’s epidemic of …show more content…
Since MyPlate has been recently introduced to school cafeterias, more students have been served fruits and vegetables with their breakfasts and lunches. Rachel Begun, M.S., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says “School nutrition professionals understand that increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables on the menu doesn’t always mean kids will eat more of them. So, they are being more strategic about serving produce in ways that will increase kids’ interest and consumption.” Schools have since began cutting up fruit and vegetables into bite-sized pieces and serving them with dips, tossing fruit into yogurt parfaits, and mixing vegetables into side dishes (Ansel, n.d.). Students do not always want to eat all of their vegetables, or drink their entire milk carton, so