Autumn 2011
Volume 14 Number 2
Clean your Plate
If you have visited Partners in Pediatrics lately, you might have noticed a colorful
Choose My Plate poster on the wall. The poster is a reminder about the new recommendations for better nutrition planning for everyone.
In June of this year the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) changed the geometric shape used to represent healthy diet. They replaced the current pyramid recommendations for healthy nutrition to a more circular one - the plate. Choose My Plate is a fresh approach for clearer guidelines for food portions for all age groups.
The idea is not new. Dietitians and organizations such as The American Diabetes Association and The Institute for Cancer Research have used a divided plate for food group portions as a teaching method. Choose My Plate follows the updated 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations to cut calories, reduce obesity and increase physical activity for kids and families.
Filling your Plate: The plate rule advises people of all ages to fill:
- One-half of the plate at each meal with fruits and vegetables
- One-quarter of the plate with protein
- One-quarter of the plate with grains
At the top of the plate is dairy. The recommendations are:
- 2 cups per day for 2- to 3-year-olds
- 2½ cups per day for 4- to 8-year-olds
- 3 cups per day for ages 9 and older.
If you go the www.ChooseMyPlate.gov web site, try clicking onto each food group. The food group will open to more information on portion sizes and best types to choose, and provides photos of healthy serving sizes using an actual plate.
A daily food plan under the interactive tools icon helps to determine how much food one needs based on their age, height, weight and activity level. Finally, there is information on vegetarian diets, dining out and planning menus with grocery shopping lists.
Other Helpful Tips: The site provides some helpful nutrition education tip sheets with easy to follow tips on the following:
- Make at least half of your grains whole grains
- Vary your vegetables
- Eat calcium rich and lower fat foods
- Lower your sodium (salt) in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks
At the end of the summer 2011, the pregnant and breastfeeding, preschoolers, kids, and weight loss sections are expected to be revised from the Food Pyramid to the Choose Your Plate method.
Here are some helpful web sites:
