USDA's New Logo: The Food Pyramid is Out! "My Plate" is In!

Food is our common ground, a universal experience.

--James Beard

The USDA's message is the same:

Balancing Calories

● Enjoy your food, but eat less.

● Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase

● Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

● Make at least half your grains whole grains.

● Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

● Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.

● Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

For more info, go to Choose My Plate

The USDA hopes that the plate as a symbol of sensible eating will be more intuitive than the old pyramid.

My take:

Yes, it will be easier to understand, but the pyramid wasn't all that complicated, especially with the accompanying narrative.

The new logo is a start, but the government needs to go further in its efforts to get Americans to eat healthier and exercise more:

● Reward food manufacturers, restaurants, and grocery stores that offer a line of healthy foods at reasonable prices meeting the above guidelines.

● Reward insurance companies that cover approved and sensible diet programs and offer free diet tips/clinics to their members.

● Reward individuals who lose and maintain a healthy weight.

● Reward schools that incorporate physical activities throughout the school day, even if it means lengthening the school day.

Using "reward" incentives would be more effective than do nothing or, worse yet, "punishing" businesses, individuals, and schools for not "complying" with food guidelines.

Otherwise, it will be business as usual: a lot of talk and no action.

Bye!