Will we be saying goodbye to the food pyramid we all know so well? According to CNN, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning to change the food pyramid into a plate icon to help American’s with their health. Read the full story after the jump!!
(CNN) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning to swap in a plate icon for the food pyramid this week, an individual familiar with the new guidelines told CNN Saturday.
The new image, expected to be unveiled Thursday, is meant to help remind Americans to make healthy food choices.
“The new food icon will be part of a comprehensive nutrition communication initiative that provides consumers with easy-to-understand recommendations, a new website with expanded information, and other tools and resources,” the USDA said in a statement this week.
In its statement, the USDA did not say what the new icon would be.
The Food Guide Pyramid was introduced in 1992 and replaced in 2005 by MyPyramid.
The original version is the widely recognized pyramid that shows a hierarchy of food groups. Grains, vegetables and fruits were represented at the base of the pyramid, suggesting they should be eaten often. Foods to be consumed in some moderation, like fats, dairy products and meats, were toward the top of the icon.
The 2005 version had vertical, rather than horizontal, blocks representing the various food groups. It also had a figure stepping up the side of the pyramid, reminding consumers of the need to exercise.
