By Diana Breault
DHAC Weight Loss Motivator
Are you familiar with the Food Guide Pyramid, MyPyramid, or MyPlate? If you are, then you probably know that each these figures resembles each other in a more “updated” form.
For nearly two decades, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created new ways to inform the public about how to follow a healthy diet. These designs have taken the shape of a pyramid, but have recently changed to a circular shape to exemplify a dinner plate. The USDA implements dietary guidelines using mostly shapes and colors to inform the public on what foods they should eat and how much they should be eating.
Along with these new designs comes harsh criticism from both the public and health professionals. It’s important for this nutrition information to be represented in a helpful and informative way that is easy to understand among different populations.
This got me thinking….why don’t I ask my fellow bloggers and DHAC fans about your opinions. What do you thnk of the whole concept on food pyramids, food plates, and any other kind of shape this information can be packed into?
Below are pictures of past and present food guides. How beneficial are these guides? What are the pros and cons? How can we illustrate this in a more clear and informative way to the public? What are your thoughts?