The New Food Groups Icon

by Dr. Kyle Remmel on July 28th, 2011

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, no better time to remember that it’s important to eat a daily rainbow of fruits and vegetables, from ruby-red grapefruit to bright green apples to berries of a variety of hues. (Way better for you than those beige french fries.)

ChooseMyPlate.gov, the new food icon and website that Obama administration officials say is a lot easier to understand and follow than the old food pyramid from which we’ve learned for nearly two decades.

“As long as they’re eating proper portions, as long as half of their meal is fruits and vegetables alongside their lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, then we’re good. It’s as simple as that,” the first lady said at the MyPlate.gov unveiling at the US Department of Agriculture, which developed the MyPlate icon.

The plate is a new, multicolored symbol designed for people to see visually how much room on a plate each of the food groups — fruits, vegetables, grains, protein & dairy — should occupy. If people visualize the icon as they fill their plate, USDA officials hope people will be reminded to make better, more balanced choices. The website behind the icon will contain nutrition guidelines, which were updated last year, and links to dozens of information sources on diets and food.

The old food pyramid, developed in 1992, displayed nutrition information in terms of servings and sizes, with many more categories. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the pyramid isn’t inaccurate, it’s just too complex to be a useful tool. Michelle Obama agrees.

“Parents don’t have the time to measure out exactly thre

e ounces of chicken or to look up how much rice or broccoli is in a serving,” she said. “That has confounded me as a parent for a very long time. I still don’t know how much protein comes in X number of ounces. And we’re all bombarded with so many dietary messages that it’s hard to find time to sort through all this information. But we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates.”

What’s NOT displayed on the plate? Dessert.

“We’re not suggesting they should not ever have a cookie or a treat or dessert or whatever, that’s not

what this is about and it’s unfortunate people want to make it about that. What this is about is a nation that has an obesity issue,” Vilsack said. “We are not telling people what to eat; we are giving them a guide.”

Here’s a look at what each color group offers, according to the American Dietetic Association:

DEEP YELLOW/ORANGE

(Pineapple, apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, peaches and sweet potatoes):

Reduces risk of some cancers and supports healthy vision and immunity.

BLUE/PURPLE

(Blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, eggplant and plums):

May have antioxidant and anti-aging benefits, keep memory sharp and the urinary tract healthy and reduce cancer risks.

RED

(Beets, cherries, cranberries, red peppers, pomegranates, red onions, watermelon and tomatoes):

May support heart health, immunity and vision and reduce cancer risks.

GREEN

(Broccoli, asparagus, avocados, grapes, green beans, kiwis and leafy greens such as spinach):