Just when you thought you understood the food pyramid, a new symbol waits in the wings to take a bow on Thursday, June 2, 2011. The 2005 MyPyramid, revised from the original Food Guide Pyramid released in1992, spawned criticism from dietitians who found it confusing and difficult for consumers to understand. The new concept will focus on a familiar icon—a circular plate. Four brightly colored sections will symbolize food areas of fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein. A smaller circle next to the plate will represent the milk group.
The symbol culminates work of an overall plan from the 2010 White House Child Obesity Task Force designed to equip consumers with reliable information to make healthy food choices. Potentially, the new icon will give a quick and easy way to compare a real plate of food to the image without measuring for portion size or counting calories. The icon content will complement the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 released in January 2011. Many dietitians and others involved with food/nutrition issues will embrace the change.
Get ready for exciting transformations in nutrition education. It’s time to bury the ancient pyramid and welcome a useful guide to help everyone make wiser food choices. Check back here for details.
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