Heather Rockwood is a food science senior and Mustang Daily food columnist.
The switch to MyPlate over the traditional food guide pyramid occurred in the early months of summer, and is relatively old news — and yet, I am certain many people have yet to realize there has even been an alteration in our nation’s official dietary guidlelines and the consequences this switch can possibly have on our nation’s eating habits.
It is a well-known fact that America is facing the consequences of allowing our food knowledge to lag and take a back seat to the rest of our busy lives. The rates of obesity have skyrocketed, the number of type 2 diabetes cases has steadily increased over the recent years, and the average cost for responsive treatment in the medical arena is at an all-time high. As the challenging economic times hit even harder, the response of many is to look into preventative health measures, and our government agrees — it is time to rethink what we eat as a nation.
The switch to the MyPlate icon is an effort by our government to make attainment of nutritional knowledge more accessible and understandable to all populations. It is a responsive effort to spark an interest in Americans concerning their diets. It is also a tool that encourages more active participation in deciding what a balanced meal actually consists of.
The new graphic, in an attempt to avoid confusion, offers a simple plate that shows the portions of particular food categories which should be present in relative portions on your plate. There is a greater emphasis on consuming more fruits and vegetables and consuming more drinks with less sugar (aka cut out the Mountain Dew) while keeping an eye on the amount of saturated fats and salt consumed. It is even connected to a website that provides further examples and ideas of the foods found within each category.
The visual graphic is explained as a vital tool to engage all family members in becoming more aware of what they are eating. It can serve as a conversation starter to help the next generation realize the importance of balancing their diet, in a hope to create a lasting change that will influence American health positively in the years to come.
These goals for the future are honorable and made with the best of intentions, but how much are these new changes actually affecting the lives and diets of Americans — especially when considering most people didn’t even know the old pyramid was replaced? Although the government insists that diet and healthy eating habits are an essential aspect in preventative health, how much are they truly investing in promoting this cause?
The early costs of the new MyPlate graphic (including research and promotion) were approximately $2 million with the intent of slightly more spending as the campaign proceeded.
Even to the average Joe, this amount seems increasingly tiny as it is dwarfed in comparison to the modest under-estimate of more than $8 billion spent by food companies in an effort to advertise their food products (that often contain highly processed foods that are notoriously linked with poorer diet choices).
When comparing the two, it seems unimaginable that the promotion of more mindful eating by the government is adequately supported in a way that will result in an actual change.
Although this is clearly not the solution toward mindful and healthy eating, at least we can say it is a step — even if it is only a baby step — toward the direction of a healthier America. The primary avenue where this new implementation may make headway is through the federal school lunch program. In order for schools to receive federal reimbursement of school lunch meals, they must follow federal dietary guidelines. The arrival of the new MyPlate guideline ensures more vegetables get on the lunch plate and that fewer salts and saturated fats make their way on.
It is wishful thinking that this small change will be enough to ensure children grow up with a better nutritional knowledge, but once again, a hopeful few insist at least there is a change, no matter how slight.