USDA Makes Welcome Eating Change with MyPlate

COMMENTARY | The government is known for being large, cumbersome and, at times, extremely complicated. That is why it was such refreshing news to hear that the USDA finally replaced the outdated food pyramid with the new and easy to understand concept called MyPlate. The symbol for MyPlate is exactly what it should be: a plate.

When we sit down at our dinner table or in a restaurant for our meal, the food usually comes served on a round plate, not a pyramid. I think this is one of the most interesting and notable things about the food pyramid overhaul because the plate helps us visualize what types of foods should go on it. It was always difficult for me as a consumer to think about or visualize a pyramid when shopping for food because I typically associate pyramids with Egypt or that old game show "$25,000 Pyramid" hosted by Dick Clark.

The other notable concept embedded within the new MyPlate guidelines is that it is OK to enjoy your food. When you view the new standards, you will notice that the dull colors of the pyramid have been replaced by the bright colors on the plate: red for fruits, orange for grains, green for veggies, purple for protein, and blue for dairy. The plate looks more welcoming and is an invitation to enjoy your meal as long as it is healthy. As a consumer, when I go shopping, I can easily picture the colors of the plate and know exactly how it should be filled for the various daily meals.

As a parent, you are expected to be all things to all people, which can be difficult in today's society. Parents are expected to work, get their kids to school and back, to various extracurricular activities after-school, delegate chores, help with homework, discipline when necessary, police social media interactions, monitor Playstation and XBox time, play outside, walk the dog, change the litter box, and serve as spiritual adviser. And, by the way, cook three meals a day.

This is why MyPlate is great for parents. The guidelines state to make sure half the plate has veggies and half the plate has fruit, coupled with protein, grain, and dairy. The old food pyramid wanted me to be a mathematician and use measuring cups and dole out serving sizes. Regardless of how busy or hectic my schedule gets, I know that I can manage to fill half my son's plate with veggies and fruit with relative ease.

Overall, I think MyPlate is a fresh take on nutritional guidelines. To be honest, I had forgotten about the old food pyramid and the good habits it was trying to imbue us with. MyPlate is brightly colored and easy to understand. It shows you how you need to eat to be healthy without coming across as preachy or superior. I will definitely have MyPlate in mind when I go grocery shopping tonight.

Site Title: USDA's My Plate