By Donna V. Scaglione
With its mission to fight obesity and its emphasis on healthier eating, the Obama administration is unveiling a new food icon tomorrow to replace the well-known food pyramid, often criticized for confusing consumers and lacking specificity of better food choices within the food groups.
Several news outlets are reporting that the icon will be a plate with four colored, divided sections, reminiscent — unfortunately — of a pie. Half of the plate, or two of the sections, would be filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter of the plate with grains, and another quarter with protein, the New York Times reports. Outside the plate is a small circle representing dairy — a glass of low-fat milk or a serving of yogurt.
Here are more details and ways to incorporate this eating plan into your life.
The New American Plate
The intention of the new plate icon is to provide consumers with a visual description that mirrors eating guidelines the federal government issued in January. It’s also an attempt to simply and more specifically detail what and how to eat. Consider the highlights of those recommendations:
• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals — and choose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
