What is “MyPlate?”

The new "MyPlate" infographic.

Combine all the choices and the wide variety of foods that are available today with all of the widely varying ideas on what constitutes a healthy diet and you have a good recipe for confusion.

                   

Opinions from researchers and respected health authorities have told us that eggs, red meat, and dairy will lead to heart attack. We were told to eat more grains and little to no fat. Then a diet comes out telling us not to worry about eating fat – eat all you want, but stay away from carbohydrates. Scores of best-selling books have been written on these and many related topics. In 2012, the weight loss industry in the United States – diet books, diet drugs, and weight loss surgeries – totaled $20 billion.

What is the average person supposed to think? We know that diet is an important component of our health, but how do we know what to eat? What kind of diet is the most beneficial?

Many of us grew up with the classic food pyramid, originally developed and promoted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The classic food pyramid recommended:

·         6-11 servings of bread, cereal rice, and/or pasta;

·         3-5 servings of vegetables;

·         2-4 servings of fruits;

·         2-3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dry beans, and nuts;

·         2-3 servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese; and

·         Fats, oils, and sweets used sparingly.

In 2005, the USDA retired the old food pyramid and introduced what it was promoting as a healthier pyramid, which reduced the amount of carbohydrates, among other things. Fast forward to 2011, and now, we have an entirely new model called “My Plate.”

Introduced by First Lady Michelle Obama and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, MyPlate is a new generation icon intended to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times, and to seek more information to help them do that by going to ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Compared to the old food pyramid, MyPlate does seem simpler, focusing on five food groups that are building blocks for a healthy diet: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. The recommendations are simple:

·         Focus on fruits.

·         Vary your veggies.

·         Make at least half your grains whole.

·         Go lean with protein.

·         Get your calcium-rich foods.

Everything in moderation, my grandmother used to say. For detailed information on MyPlate, go to the USDA website: choosemyplate.gov.

Have a healthy eating idea to share? Post it in the comment box below. We'd love to hear it!

HealthyU is being brought to you by SHIP, Polk County Public Health, the City of Fosston, Essentia Health, and several other private partners. Launched in 2008 as part of Minnesota’s bipartisan health reform effort, SHIP works to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives while building healthy, vital communities. SHIP encourages healthy eating, active living, and avoiding commercial tobacco by working with schools, communities, workplaces, and healthcare to make healthy choices easier.