USDA officially unveiled a new icon to represent the 2010 Dietary Guidelines.  The former image, that of the food guide pyramid will be replaced with the image of a food plate.  The plate will look similar to those already used by the American Diabetes Association, the Cancer Research Institute and the physicians Power Plate. 

usda food plate

As a family who has been using the healthy plate idea for over 4 years, I can tell you that it works!  My kids know they need to add fruits and vegetables to every single meal.  It’s been ingrained in their heads just by looking at the plate, every time we sit down to eat.

The image of the plate is perfect! It is great because:

  • It teaches kids balanced portions.  No matter how much you eat, just using half your plate for fruits and vegetables will keep you healthy!
  • It focuses on food that should be included in your diet, rather than foods that are considered “bad” for you.
  • No matter what dietary values you have, it is applicable to everyone.  Low carb, low fat, gluten free, vegetarian, etc.  They all can have application to the plate.
  • It’s simple! Finally an image that people can relate to as it pertains to what we are actually putting on our plates!

Here are some of our meal ideas we’ve used while eating on the plate.  It isn’t always easy to eat this way. I will be first to admit it. But sharing meal ideas to make it work will help all of us eat this way!

my plate for kids USDA new food icon Kids Healthy Food Plate
Balanced meal ideas using myplate Portion plate with meal ideas healthy habits plate
Kids plate dietary guidelines cafe rio salad kids veggie sub sandwich
pea salad on portion plate stirfry chicken and rice cabbage salad 2
green bean casserole

tropical fruit salad 2

 kids plate pink salad
cookie cutter french fries DSC_0283 DSC_3571
DSC_3480 DSC_3567 DSC_3412
DSC_0790 asparagus DSC_1446
DSC_1148 DSC_0739 Ginger Orange Carrots
DSC_0378 DSC_0006  

 

To check out the Super Healthy Kids plate, visit Healthy Kids Plate

For questions or comments, email me at amy@superhealthykids.com or call 801-874-7641

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