USDA MyPlate – The Good, The Bad, and the Forgotten

The USDA is at it again. They’ve replaced the infamous Food Pyramid with a plate – dubbed “MyPlate” as an initiative to get Americans to eat healthier. According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, “It’s an opportunity for Americans to understand quickly how to have a balanced and nutritious meal”.

So, does the plate accomplish what it set out to?  Sort of, but not really.  I’ll explain.

Let’s start with the good because I like to look at the positive side of things first.  I’m an optimist that way.

1. MyPlate recommends that half of your meal comes from fruit and vegetables. This is awesome.  I am a big proponent of a plant-based diet and have witnessed first-hand how it can radically change lives.  Score one for the USDA!
2. They support eating whole grains. Again, LOVE this!  Not processed carbs, not refined grains, but whole grains.  And, they make the serving size over 1/4 of your plate.  High-five USDA.
3. The model is simple. It’s a plate.  We don’t eat by building a pyramid for each meal.  Instead, we put our food on a plate.  This simple visual is a huge step forward for busy Americans.  And, they made it look nice which is always a plus. So far, the USDA is winning!  (In a good way, not like Charlie Sheen.)

But, not so fast.  (You knew it wouldn’t last long, didn’t you?)  Here are my issues (the “bad” and the “forgotten”, if you will) with MyPlate:

1. Protein – This section of the plate is vague and misleading.  Unlike fruit, vegetables, and grains, “protein” is not a food group.  It’s a nutrient.   And, for the record, Americans get more than enough!  It definitely does not need it’s own section on MyPlate.Protein is found in vegetables, grains, and yes even fruit.  By eating a diet rich in plants and whole foods (like nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes), you will get more than enough protein.
2. Dairy – I’m happy that dairy is in a little circle completely off the plate but it annoys me that it’s there at all.  I realize the heads of the National Dairy Council (NDC) would explode if the government dared to remove it from the diagram entirely.  And, of course, we all know that the NDC dollars that consistently line the pockets of our government representatives is enough to ensure this would never happen. BUT, that’s another article.  I’m speaking from a health perspective only here.There is simply no place for dairy products in a healthy diet.  We don’t need it for protein (see above), it’s not a good source of calcium (studies have shown it actually will leach calcium OUT of our bones), and it is a top food sensitivity for most Americans.
3. Legumes, Beans, Nuts, and Seeds - Don’t look for these foods on the plate too long.  They’re not there.I suppose they’re including these items in the “protein” section and that’s why they don’t have their own portion, but in reality, these foods are so much more than protein.  The include vital nutrients like fat which is necessary for things like the production of hormones and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

I could go on and on about how the portion sizes aren’t specific, and about how the guidelines (“Enjoy your food, but eat less.”) are confusing but as Robert Post of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion said, “Our approach here is to make it very simple.  One icon cannot deliver everything a consumer needs to know.”  And on that, we agree.

For more information on MyPlate, visit its website at www.choosemyplate.gov.

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