Farewell to the food pyramid, now is "my plate"

For nearly 20 years, the food pyramid has been the standard to know what foods we should eat and how much to eat a healthy diet. If you look at the picture of this pyramid appears in several of the packages of food and has established himself as an ally of nutrition. However, the U.S. government decided to change it to make it easier to read for everyone. Now, instead of a pyramid, good nutrition is drawn on a plate.

The food pyramid made history this week. Since 1992, this pyramid has been the icon that says how to eat healthy: on the floor, the foods that should be consumed and the tip, that food just eaten occasionally, like sweets and fats. In the middle, specified portions of proteins, grains and dairy.

But even though we are all familiar with that picture, which was the result of several years of research, the current government of the United States (the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services in a joint effort) announced that Henceforth, the pyramid will be replaced by a plate.

It is much easier to visualize something in the way we eat really, on a plate. The circular plate, which will be released this Thursday June 2 consists of four different colored sections for fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins. Next to the plate, a small dairy circle indicating, whether a glass of milk, a cup of yogurt or a piece of cheese.

The change has been readily accepted by the community of nutritionists. For many, the pyramid was confusing and did not distinguish clearly between healthy foods like whole grains and not so healthy, like white bread, for example. Not to mention that the dish is much easier to interpret for anyone.

This new dish is similar to the program designed to combat obesity headed by the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, suggesting that half your plate contains vegetables and fruit half.

Contains six key messages about healthy eating:

• Enjoy your food, but eat less
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Serve half your plate with fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to low-fat milk or fat.
• Compare sodium (salt) in foods like soup, bread and frozen foods and choose those containing less.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

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