The New Food "Pyramid"

As of last week the well known and recognized USDA Food Pyramid will be retired for a new sleek look, a circle. As part of the White House Child Obesity Task Force, the food pyramid will be revamped to look like a dinner plate.

In this dinner plate will be consisted of the following parts: Half of the circle is filled with fruits and vegetables, with another portion featuring rice, cereal and other grains, and the rest would consist of proteins (chicken and nuts). To the side of this plate, looking like a glass, is going to be a glass of milk to represent the amount of milk products such as yogurt that you should be having daily. The main goal of the new look is to emphasize that fruits and vegetables should consist of half of the food that is consumed, portions should be smaller and that water should also be a part of one’s diet.

According to the USDA, “The new food icon will be part of a comprehensive nutrition communication initiative that provides consumers with easy-to-understand recommendations, a new website with expanded information, and other tools and resources.”

The food pyramid was first introduced in 1992 and then later revamped in 2005 and has been criticized for being too difficult to read and understand. More so, the 2005 version did not include any foods on the pyramid, making it difficult to teach, especially to younger children. Out goes the sharp edged, hard to read pyramid and in comes the smooth looking dinner plate that is easier to understand and consequently easier to teach; making everyone understand what they are supposed to be eating and in what portions.