The new graphic for the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans has been released, and its appearance differs greatly from the 2005 MyPyramid.
Jackie Walters, nutrition education program extension specialist, is pleased that the new graphic is easier to understand. "Taking the form of a plate and a glass, MyPlate is familiar and less abstract than MyPyramid. You can immediately grasp the idea that each food group should be on your plate in the relative amounts shown."
Janet Mullins, associate extension professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, is excited about MyPlate. "Most food consumers know they should be eating more vegetables and fruits, less fat and sodium, and balancing calories with physical activity. The MyPlate symbolizes an easier way for people to make food choices."
Learn more about MyPlate at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ or by contacting your local Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service office.