Chances are you remember the food pyramid or at least a variation of it. The pyramid graphic was used to encourage healthy eating by recommending serving sizes for different food groups.
The food pyramid, or “Food Guide Pyramid” as it was formally called, was first introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1992 and updated in 2005 with the name “MyPyramid.” It was eventually replaced by “MyPlate” in 2011 to better represent nutrition guidelines in a way we can visually understand: on a plate.
Although it has been our rule of thumb for more than a decade, many Americans are still unfamiliar with the guide. According to a new study from the National Center for Health Statistics, less than one-third of adults have heard of MyPlate and less than one-tenth have tried to follow the recommendations.
Getting to know MyPlate:
- The United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and serves as the primary educational tool to communicate federal dietary guidance.
- The dinner plate-shaped icon displays the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy.
- MyPlate reminds us to avoid large portions, fill half our plates with vegetables and fruits, and that the best meals have a variety of nutrients from different food groups.
While MyPlate is a helpful guide, it is up to you to customize meals based on food preferences. The kind of food you eat often depends on culture and background. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) takes this into consideration when offering MyPlate resources at health-related events.
BCBSAZ presented culturally tailored MyPlate handouts in English and Spanish at the Healthy Fall Festival. In addition to the Hispanic-focused MyPlate, the handouts provided a recipe for chicken posole verde. Similarly, a Native American MyPlate guide was distributed at the recent Tribal Health Symposium with an additional recipe for vegetable, elk, and wild rice soup.
MyPlate can help you live a healthier lifestyle. It’s not telling you what to eat, but what you should consider in portion size and food type. And, fortunately, the plate is a lot easier to understand than the pyramid!