‘We are not telling people what to eat; we are giving them a guide.” That’s what Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday as he unveiled his department’s new guide for healthful eating. Here’s hoping he’s right. The “My Plate” insignia he displayed replaces the familiar pyramid, which was so confusing that many nutritionists said it was useless in teaching healthy eating habits.
A serviceable symbol certainly is needed. The number of obese and overweight Americans of all ages has soared in the nearly two decades since the rainbow-striped triangle was introduced.
The new guide is a circle divided into four different-sized, color-coded, sections. Segments labeled “fruit” and “vegetables” fill half the plate. Sections labeled “grains” and “protein” comprise the other half. The vegetable and grains sections are the largest of the four. A circle labeled “dairy” is adjacent to the plate. The new guide is more attractive than the pyramid. Whether it will help change U.S. eating habits remains to be seen.
There’s reason to hope that it can. Certainly help is needed. About two-thirds of U.S. adults and about a third of youngsters are now either obese or overweight. That’s a substantial increase in the last 20 years. It is fueled, experts say, by increasingly poor eating habits and a lack of exercise, though the former is more a factor than the latter. Vilsack and others believe the “My Plate” design can play a powerful role in combating the problem. They’ve mounted a campaign that is catchy and attuned to modern sensibilities to make it viable.
While the old symbol provided little direct or indirect help on what to eat, the new icon offers visual clues to healthy choices. Though the design is not meant to be proportional, it does provide a sure reference to what foods a healthy meal should contain. Ambitious use of social media – an excellent idea in this cyber-connected day and age – should enhance the utility of the nutritional guidelines.