In a long overdue move to clarify what the government thinks its citizens should eat, the USDA revealed its new "MyPlate" logo, a marked improvement over the outdated and confusing Pyramid Graphic. According to the New York Times, "The new design, called MyPlate, was conceived as a crucial part of Mrs. Obama's campaign against obesity, designed to remind consumers about the basics of a healthful diet."
First, the good news: this graphic is easy to read and sensible. We eat off a plate so why shouldn't a plate logo be our guide. The plate is split into four fairly even sections although grains and vegetables appear slightly larger than the fruit and protein sections, which is a good thing as long as the grains one chooses are actually whole grains and not refined carbohydrates masquerading as grains (like most bread, crackers and pasta sold in grocery stores). A smaller circle, suggesting it could be an "on the side" item sits beside the plate for dairy products. Unlike the pyramids past, dairy is finally relegated to a secondary position. Dairy has long figured way too prominently in the USDA recommendations thanks to congressional kowtowing to the powerful dairy lobby. Not sure how Michelle managed to fight that beast (maybe those fabulous biceps had something to do with it) but this is a huge victory. Not only is dairy not a necessary dietary component for anyone over the age of five or so, approximately 30-50% of Americans are lactose intolerant. And while diary is a good source of calcium for people who don't eat enough greens, most dairy is consumed in the form of cheese, which, although delicious, is not healthy in large quantities. An aside: I almost died when I saw the new Pizza Hut ad for its cheesy bites pizza. Seriously?
Now let's talk about what's not so good about the MyPlate graphic.
The terms vegetables, fruit, grains, protein and dairy mean different things to different people. Let me give you two examples of meals that technically follow these guidelines:
Meal 1: 30% of plate is potatoes (vegetable). 30% of plate is white rice (grain). 20% of plate is factory farmed red meat (protein). 20% of plate is peaches canned in syrup (fruit). Meal is downed with a large glass of milk from cows treated with rBGH (dairy).
This person followed the rules but consumed loads of empty calories, unsafe hormones and antibiotics from the factory farmed meat and milk, and a good deal of sugar from the canned fruit. There was almost no fiber in the meal and too many calories in the form of refined carbohydrates.
Meal 2: 30% of plate is a medley of braised greens. 30% of plate is brown rice. 20% of plate is a 4 oz serving of wild salmon. 20% of plate is fresh berries, which serve as the dessert and can be eaten with the organic cultured yogurt served on the side.
This person followed the guidelines and took in an abundance of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, etc. in the form of nutrient-dense and delicious, fiber-rich foods. The meal contained a healthy number of calories in the form of whole grains and healthy fats. It might not escape your attention that the second plate would probably cost a lot more, which is why I wish the government would focus its energy on making healthy food more affordable (let's start with subsidizing vegetable crops instead of corn) rather than trying to tell us what to eat with a pretty picture.
So, the major problem is that the MyPlate still doesn't tell Americans what to eat and what not to eat in a clear manner. Now some of you will say the government has no place to tell Americans what to eat; and while I tend to be more pro-government than anti-government in general, I tend to agree with you BUT not because I philosophically oppose government suggesting ways for Americans to eat more healthfully, rather, because I don't think they do it well due to basic conflicts of interest.
New and improved graphics aside, the basic premise of the USDA telling Americans what to eat is flawed because the USDA, like most government agencies, is at the beck and call of lobbyists working for for-profit industries. And lobbyists for the meat and dairy industries make sure that the government never says things like "Don't eat factory-farmed red meat" or "Dairy is not a healthy food for some people." Also, the USDA is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which means it is also in charge of promoting America's agricultural interests so do you think it is going to tell you to eat a naturally gluten-free South American grain like quinoa instead of the plethora of wheat-based products made here in the US of A? Of course not. It wouldn't be good monetary policy. Therefore, the USDA advising us on what to eat is an inherently flawed concept despite what I believe are the best intentions of the First Lady and a few congressmen on both sides of the aisle.
For a more detailed analysis of why the government does such a poor job of telling us what to eat, read Marion Nestle's "Food Politics" or "What to Eat." In the meantime, stick to what you know from reading this blog or follow health and science writer Michael Pollan's simple guideline: "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants."
As always, thanks for reading and stay healthy this summer!
