Introduced in 1992 by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the food pyramid quickly set the standard for what a healthy American diet should look like. For millennials in particular, the food pyramid was a ubiquitous part of their culture and education as they grew up. While many may have forgotten all of the state capitals or how to do long division, the food pyramid visualization stuck around, continuing to inform the food choices they made as adults.
For something that was around for a relatively short amount of time (19 years—the food pyramid shifted to the food “plate,” or MyPlate, in 2011), it had a tremendous effect on how Americans ate—and continue to eat today. It solidified food habits that are, for many, still ingrained into their psyches as the “correct” way to eat.
What the food pyramid got wrong
While the food pyramid was designed to be simple and easy to remember, the guidelines it provided prioritized food companies’ interests—i.e., high-carb, low-fat foods—over humans’ actual nutritional needs. Over time, food companies got richer, while society’s health declined.
Some of the health challenges people face today reveal some troubling trends about metabolic health:
- 42% of U.S. adults are obese
- Over 10% of the population has type 2 diabetes
- 60% of the American diet consists of ultra-processed foods that are low in nutrients but high in sugar and unhealthy fats
Factors like physical activity, genetics, where you live, etc. can all affect how healthy we are, but the sharp rise in metabolic health conditions over the last few decades paint a clear picture.
The food we eat is making us sicker.
The new food pyramid: A balanced plate
Despite the evidence against it, society has had a hard time letting the food pyramid go. Over the years, many have attempted to come up with a new food pyramid with better guidelines.
Eventually, the food pyramid gave way to a different visual: a plate of food. Instead of categorizing each food group into hierarchies, the focus is now on filling a plate with the right proportion of food groups that will ensure you’re meeting your daily dietary needs in each meal.
From pyramid to plate: Guidelines based on science
The new “food pyramid,” aka, MyPlate, launched in 2011, and was also designed to be simple and easy to use, with better guidelines backed by science. The basic MyPlate guidelines are as follows:
- Fill half your plate/bowl with fruits and vegetables
- Make half your grains whole grains
- Get your protein from a variety of foods—the leaner, the better
- Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods
These guidelines leave a lot of room for creativity and customization, allowing you to make any adjustments you need for food sensitivities/allergies and taste preferences.
Nutritionists make the following recommendations in addition to the MyPlate guidelines:
- Drink water instead of soda or juice
- Eat smaller portion sizes
- Eat a variety of foods, especially whole foods
- Reduce the amount of ultra-processed foods you eat (packaged foods, fast food, desserts, candy, etc.)
- Practice mindful eating
This approach to nutrition sets individuals up for a healthier lifestyle with better health outcomes. Unfortunately, ultra-processed foods and convenient-but-unhealthy food options are just as prevalent as ever, which can make it hard to follow the MyPlate guidelines as often as we should. But with the desire to eat a healthier diet and the guidelines to help you do it, you only need one more thing to help you succeed: high-quality support.
Close the gap with Feel Great
We all have those days where we choose the easy (and usually less healthy) option because we simply need calories to get us from one day to the next. With a little help, we can get the nutritional support we need—superhuman willpower not required—and actually reach our health goals.
The Feel Great program helps close that gap between where you are and where you want to be with your health. Its formula is simple: two products (Balance and Unimate) + one practice (intermittent fasting). Feel Great helps you feel fuller for longer, improves your focus and energy, and helps reduce the impact of excess carbohydrates and cholesterol on your diet, even if you don’t make perfect food choices at every meal.
Visit ufeelgreat.com to learn more about how Feel Great can make it easier to support your health and feel better than you’ve felt in years.