U.S. swaps pyramid for plate as guide for healthy eating

In response to rising rates of childhood obesity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that the food pyramid nutritional diagram will be replaced by a simple plate. The idea is that the pyramid was too complex and that a plate diagram will be easier to understand. U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama made the announcement, asking: “when it comes to eating, what’s more simple than a plate?” Called MyPlate, half the diagram – which represents the portions of a recommended daily diet – is taken up by fruits and vegetables. The other two quarters of the plate consist of grains and protein, while a small circle symbolizing dairy products sits next to it like a glass of milk. The U.S.D.A. has already spent $2 million creating and promoting MyPlate. Some critics are saying the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Forbes