New Food Guideline Visual Aid -- "the plate" replaces "Food Pyramid"

from USA TODAY coverage (June 2, 2011)

The government is dishing up healthy eating advice, not with a new Food Pyramid, but with an image of a plate.  From a practical point of view, the plate image really works to help people make better food choices, nutritionists say. The new icon (www.choosemyplate.gov), called My Plate, is divided into four sections — fruits, vegetables, grains and protein. It replaces the familiar pyramid image, which was first introduced in 1992 and revised in 2005. Many nutritionists believed the pyramid had become too complicated for people to understand easily.
"This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we're eating and as a mom, I can already tell how much this is going to help parents across the country," said first lady Michelle Obama during the presentation Thursday.  "When mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we're already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew. So it's tough to be a nutritionist, too. But we do have time to take a look at our kids' plates. As long as they're half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we're golden. That's how easy it is."
The symbol is part of a healthy eating initiative that will convey seven key messages from the government's dietary guidelines, including: enjoy food but eat less; avoid oversized portions; make half your plate fruits and vegetables; drink water instead of sugary drinks; switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk; compare sodium in foods; and make at least half your grains whole grains, says Robert Post, deputy director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
The initiative will be promoted in a multi-year effort with support from professional health groups, businesses and industry. It will include public service announcements, placemats in restaurants, videos and social media messages, Post says.
The goal is to make healthy eating easier for individuals and families, he says. This is all part of the first lady's Let's Move campaign.
Currently, about two-thirds of adults and a third of children are overweight or obese, putting them at an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems.
From a practical point of view, the plate image really works to help people make better food choices, nutritionists say.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011/06/USDA-nutrition-guidelines-on-My-Plate/47936534/1