The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has replaced its food pyramid with a plate icon that encourages a more plant-based diet.  According to the new icon named MyPlate, half of the plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables, while the other half should consist of whole grains and lean protein. A serving of low-fat dairy on the side is also suggested. 

 

Currently, one-third of children and two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are obese (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).  The goal of MyPlate is to reverse this trend by simplifying nutritional information consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines, which were released in January.  The guidelines recommend consuming fewer calories, filling half of the plate with fruits and vegetables, eating whole grains instead of refined grains, reducing sodium, and drinking water instead of sugary drinks.

 

Resources from the Public Health Foundation (PHF) encourage healthy food choices to prevent obesity.  Use the Pediatric Series: Helping Overweight Children and Development & Nutrition CD-ROM programs to prevent childhood obesity by learning how to establish good eating habits for children; initiate efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in your community based on the model programs outlined in Think Fresh! Partnerships for Promotion of Vegetable and Fruits in Low-Income Communities Video; and prevent excessive weight gain in children with the text, Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs, the new set of national standards for nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs.

 

To learn more about these resources and place an order, visit the Learning Resource Center (LRC).  PHF’s Learning Resource Center is where public health, health care, and allied health professionals can find high quality training materials at an affordable price. These informative materials cover areas such as quality improvement, performance management, infectious diseases, epidemiology, diabetes, preparedness, and immunization. Materials are available in a variety of formats, including print, software, resource manuals, physician guides, and patient brochures.
 
LRC also specializes in marketing services for promoting public health products.  New product distribution and partnership opportunities are available.  Contact Antoinette Barber if your organization is interested in learning more about PHF’s Learning Resource Center.