Linda Carney MD

MyPlate Replaces Food Pyramid

Yesterday, Thursday June 2, 2011, the USDA introduced a new visual representation in an attempt to simplify understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet.  We should all applaud the change as being much closer to what should be represented.  This is definitely progress and a MAJOR step in the right direction!  Interestingly enough it looks and feels strikingly like the Power Plate previously designed by Dr. Neal Barnard of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) which appears to not be an accident.

The first Food Pyramid was introduced nearly two decades ago and yet obesity, diabetes and heart disease exploded in epidemic proportions since it's release.  Fast Foods also exploded in epidemic proportions.  While these convenience foods may be 'Fast' it is probably not right to call them 'Foods' and a more fitting description might be 'Fast Foes' as these food-like substances are enemies to your good health!  The next time you are tempted to eat these for convenience remind yourself that Fast Foes are NOT your Friends!

The MyPlate might better be modified as follows:

• Completely remove the little Dairy cup on the side since Mammals do not need to drink milk after they are weaned, and especially not the milk of another species, and in particular one whose milk is designed to turn a small calf into a humongous cow in record time.  There are better options for getting calcium; From a wide variety of plants!
• Replace the Protein section with Legumes since protein deficiency is NOT a problem for anybody who has enough food to eat and is living on a wide variety of whole Plant Foods.
• Represent Nuts and Seeds sparingly. Walnuts are king!

Actually the easiest thing might be to just retire the new MyPlate and replace it with the PCRM PowerPlate!  PCRM would probably be thrilled for the US Government to use their PowerPlate.

Of course, in order for the US Government to really "Put our money where their mouth is" the current food subsidy system would need to be completely turned on it's head.  Current food subsidies mostly support major agribusiness in the production of foods which we should not even be eating.

Vegetables and Fruits receive less than 1% of total government (think tax-payer dollars!) food subsidies.  According to the newly introduced MyPlate, it would seem logical that Vegetables and Fruits should be receiving 50% of all food subsidy dollars. Meat and Dairy currently receive 63% of all food subsidies although the number is actually quite a bit higher when we consider that Grains are receiving 20% of all subsidies.  And, the majority of grains in the USA are actually fed to Animals to FATTEN THEM UP FOR THE SLAUGHTER! So, the total subsidies to meat and dairy might be more realistically represented as something like seventy-five percent 75% or maybe more.

Imagine what subsidizing Vegetables and Fruits with 50% of all food subsidy dollars might do towards making affordable produce available to EVERY person in America. Imagine what might happen if instead of subsidizing Meat and Dairy to the tune of 63% to 75%, the subsidies were removed altogether or reduced to the 1% currently given to Vegetables and Fruits. Vegetables and Fruits would become extremely affordable and Animal based foods would become very expensive.  The market would then dictate that people eat sensibly.  Many people today believe that Animal Products are cheap and fresh produce is expensive but the truth is that animal products are extremely expensive but they are being paid for by tax-payer dollars.  Even people that do not eat Animal-based foods are footing the bill for them!

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