MyPlate Initiative

Has anyone read about the First Lady's MyPlate initiative.  I have read a little on it and checked out the website.  The website is very difficult to maneuver and not user friendly but the graphics are appealing.  If they put some time and effort in their website, it could really help the movement, I got frustrated with it in less than 5 minutes then x-ed out.

As for the movement itself, its is a good way to figure out how much of what to eat and it has included some good lists of what are fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, dairy, and fats (empty calories).  The dividing up the plate concept has been used by every Nutritionist I have ever met, and it really is a good concept in explaining portions.  Most Nutritionist have explained it as half the plate is vegetables, a quarter grains, and a quarter proteins.  The way MyPlate is set up is a little different and is a little confusing because most of the food plans do not match the MyPlate divided plate concept.  The concepts is that your meal is a quarter fruits, a quarter vegetables, a quarter grains, a quarter proteins, and cup of dairy, but most of the daily food plans have more proteins and grains being consumed daily than fruits and vegetables, by almost double.

MyPlate does not address the size of the plate, America plate size has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. If you eat a quarter of a plate of grains it is a lot more food on a 12" round then a 9" round, and what if it is a square plate?  Square plates hold more food.  This is not addressed by MyPlate and it should, ever Nutritionist I know addresses it with their patents.  If you want more on how portion size has changed, check out: Portion Size, Then vs. Now - By: Liz Monte.

I think the MyPlate initiative is great in theory but needs a little tweaking for it to be a viable long term healthier eating plan for American's.