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USDA Unveils MyPlate, Replaces Food Pyramid

FoodProcessing.com
06/02/2011

By Food Processing Staff

The Food Pyramid many American adults have grown up with has been replaced. Introduced today, the federal governments new MyPlate icon was created to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled MyPlate during a press conference today.

The MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups. According to the USDA, the intent of MyPlate is to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

"With so many food options available to consumers, it is often difficult to determine the best foods to put on our plates when building a healthy meal," said Secretary Vilsack. "MyPlate is an uncomplicated symbol to help remind people to think about their food choices in order to lead healthier lifestyles. This effort is about more than just giving information, it is a matter of making people understand there are options and practical ways to apply them to their daily lives."

MyPlate will replace the MyPyramid image as the government's primary food group symbol as an easy-to-understand visual cue to help consumers adopt healthy eating habits consistent with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. MyPyramid will remain available to interested health professionals and nutrition educators in a special section of the new website.