by Mary Elizabeth Dallas
June 21, 2011

Since 1916, the federal government has offered Americans guidance on healthy food choices. Back then the focus was on so-called “protective foods” and making wise choices for young children. More recently in 1984, the food wheel was introduced, providing information on nutritional content and adequate intake of five basic food groups. The wheel, however gave way to the food pyramid in 1992. The pyramid expanded on the five basic food groups to visually reinforce the concepts of variety, moderation, and proportion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has come a long way over the past 95 years. First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced losing the pyramid (now considered outdated and too complicated) and replacing it with a new initiative building on a familiar food image: a plate.

Dubbed MyPlate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) says the new generation icon serves as a reminder for consumers about making wiser food choices and building a healthy plate at mealtimes.

“With so many food options available to consumers, it is often difficult to determine the best foods to put on our plates when building a healthy meal,” said Secretary Vilsack in a news release issued jointly with Michelle Obama. “MyPlate is an uncomplicated symbol to help remind people to think about their food choices in order to lead healthier lifestyles. This effort is about more than just giving information, it is a matter of making people understand there are options and practical ways to apply them to their daily lives.”

So, what exactly are the key messages behind the new set of USDA guidelines?

• Balance calories: Americans can enjoy food, just eat less of it and avoid oversized portions.

• Foods to increase: MyPlate now recommends that Americans fill at least half of their plates at mealtimes with fruits and vegetables. The USDA also says higher fat dairy should be replaced with skim or low fat versions and at least 50 percent of grain choices should be whole grains.

• Foods to reduce: The USDA says Americans need to watch how much sodium is in their diet. The government advises that consumers compare sodium content in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose those with lower numbers. Sugary drinks should also be replaced by water.

“This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating and as a mom, I can already tell how much this is going to help parents across the country,” said Michelle Obama. “When mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we’re already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew. So it’s tough to be a nutritionist, too. But we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates. As long as they’re half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, we’re golden. That’s how easy it is.”

Criticisms of the food plate
Despite the largely positive response to the USDA’s new icon, best-selling author and speaker, Dr. Andrew Weil adds the USDA’s MyPlate is not without some serious flaws, including:

1. The “Fruits” section makes no distinction between fruit juices and fruits. For instance, the USDA lists 1/2 cup of fruit juice as equivalent to 1/2 cup of fruit. Weil says the USDA ignores the fact that, “metabolically, the difference between a glass of filtered, pasteurized apple juice and a glass of soda is minor.” Eating the whole fruit is a better choice, notes Weil, since the fiber in the fruit slows digestion, “leading to more stable blood sugar and a longer-lasting feeling of fullness that can help prevent overeating.”

2. In the “Grains” section, the USDA makes no distinction between true whole grains and those that are ground into flour. As with fruits, Weil explains, “keeping grains intact, rather than pulverized, slows digestion and stabilizes blood sugar.” For example, whole cereal oats contain a much higher nutritional value than instant oats.

3. The USDA also lists swordfish as a recommended source of protein. Weil warns that swordfish is not only overfished, but “as a predator species, it tends to bioaccumulate toxins such as mercury.” Weill recommend choosing striped bass, wild Alaskan salmon, herring, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and Alaskan halibut, as these are not more abundant varieties of fish which are low in toxic residues.

4. The emphasis on fat-free or low-fat dairy also brings criticism from Weil, who notes, “This advice is becoming outdated, as new research has revealed full-fat dairy does not pose a heart-health risk, and may offer unique benefits.” A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in January 2010, which combines the results of 21 previous studies, underscores Weil’s view showing no clear evidence that higher saturated fat intakes led to higher risks of heart disease or stroke.

Other critics of the new food plate are quick to point out that the administration’s push for more fresh produce in Americans’ diets and less fatty meat and dairy is a bit hypocritical.

Existing federal farm subsidies encourage an abundant supply of corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans. Farm subsidies initiated by the federal government date back to 1933 as part of the New Deal. The initial program, the White House noted, opened the doors for a slew of other programs benefitting U.S. agriculture, including commodity price supports and production controls, marketing orders to limit competition, import barriers, and crop insurance.

Payments to farmers of specific crops or animal products constituted about 70 percent of all direct farm support in 2008, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisors. Of this amount, corn producers received about 29 percent, followed by upland cotton with 25 percent, 15 percent for tobacco, 14 percent for wheat, 7 percent for soybeans, and 5 percent for rice.

Why do critics see this as hypocritical in light of the USDA’s new recommendations set forth in MyPlate? Much of the federally subsidized corn and soybean crops are fed to livestock for the production of meat, milk, and eggs. Some of these crops also end up in processed foods in the form of partially hydrogenated soybean oil or high-fructose corn syrup. Critics also note, these less nutritious processed foods are typically less expensive than fresh produce.

It appears, to critics, as though the federal government is subsidizing certain crops, then telling Americans to spend more of their money consuming others that aren’t subsidized.

Debate over farm subsidies heating up
Farm subsidies have become a widely debated political battle of will between powerful special interests that support the Depression-era programs and those who believe they should not be immune to badly needed federal spending cuts.

President Obama has already taken aim at farm subsidies. Back in April 2010, the President announced plans to scale back payments to farmers with incomes of more than $250,000 a year as Congress began drafting a new farm bill, which is passed about every five years.

Just recently however, the House rejected the proposal to lower the maximum amount of money a farmer can receive in subsidies from the government. Despite calls for spending cuts, GOP lawmakers spared the farm subsidies saying those cuts should be pushed back until Congress considers the new farm bill next year.

Instead, the current budget cuts include WIC aid for pregnant women, infants, and children by $650 million—forcing the program to turn away up to 350,000 low-income women and young children in 2012. The government is pushing for better nutrition but will ultimately deny 350,000 women and young children the aid they need to make healthy choices for their families.

“Instead of making smart cuts to get our spending under control and focusing on creating jobs and supporting our economy, this bill makes devastating cuts on the backs of women, infants, and children and eliminates funding critical to our family farmers,” says Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis) in a news release.

Goals of MyPlate initiative
Despite these potential drawbacks, the USDA says by issuing the new set of guidelines, it hopes to tackle the ongoing obesity epidemic in the U.S.. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as of 2008, 34 percent of adults age 20 years and older are obese. Another 34 percent are considered overweight. Meanwhile, 18 percent of teens ranging in age from 12–19 years are also obese, as are 20 percent of children ages 6–11 years. Moreover, 10 percent of young children between the ages of 2–5 years are also affected by this health epidemic.

The USDA says the new plate icon will hopefully support Americans in building healthy diets and empower them to make better food choices.

“The Plate is a major step forward in our nation’s efforts to promote health and prevent disease. In today’s environment, when food is on every corner, at every event, and two-thirds of the nation is overweight or obese, consumers need clear guidance on healthy eating,” concludes Dr. David A. Kessler, Former FDA Commissioner, Professor of Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco in a news release. “The Plate shows more clearly than the Pyramid what healthy eating is. The Plate and the comprehensive communications effort it represents will help reverse trends for obesity.”

As some nutritional experts note, however, MyPlate is merely a symbol for healthy nutrition. Families and individuals must use it as a springboard for healthier living. It can and should serve as a valuable resource Americans can use to educate themselves on proper nutrition and apply that information to their daily lives.