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The Food Pyramid Is Getting a Makeover

The USDA plans to scrap the Food Pyramid and unveil a new plate-shaped icon.

The Food Pyramid has been the symbol of nutrition over the last 20 years. Since outdated, the United States Department of Agriculture will reveal a new plate-shaped icon in its place.

 

The new nutritional guide will be sectioned off to show portions of each basic food group and will be a part of an entire initiative to raise awareness on nutrition. “The new food icon will be part of a comprehensive nutrition communication initiative that provides consumers with easy-to-understand recommendations, a new website with expanded information, and other tools and resources,” the USDA said in a statement.

 

This will be the government’s way of making it easier for Americans to get the information they need to have a healthy diet. Vegetables, protein and grain each have their own color and section while yogurt, milk and all other products will have their own circle as well.

 

The Food Guide Pyramid made its debut in 1992 and was replaced by MyPyramid in 2005. The original pyramid showed each food group in ranked order. Good foods like fruits, grains and vegetables were at the bottom of the pyramid because it is the largest area, suggesting that these foods should be eaten most often. Meats, dairy and fat were found at the top, indicating that they’re foods that should be eaten in moderation.

 

The version of the pyramid that was rolled out in 2005 had vertical blocks instead of the horizontal ones from 1992, as well as a figure climbing up the side to represent the importance of exercise.

 

The new food plate will be presented during a live stream by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Thursday, June 2.

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