New Food Pyramid Shaped as a Plate Makes Choosing Healthy
Meals Easier
The new food pyramid, called MyPlate, was introduced
to show people how a typical meal should look. Fruits
and vegetables contain important nutrients such as fiber
and potassium that help reduce the risk of developing heart disease,
type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Whole grains should be consumed, allowing the food to be broken down slowly while preventing sharp spikes in blood glucose while also helping to lower cholesterol. Protein sources should consist of lean meats including at least 8 oz of fish per week. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are some of the reasons that having dairy at each meal is very beneficial.
The new MyPlate also shows the proper portion size when compared
to your standard dinner plate. This differs from the food pyramids of the
past that gave recommendations as to how many servings one should consume from
each individual food group with no attention paid to portion size.
