What is my plate?

My dish is a guide to nutrition and healthy eating prepared by the nutrition team of the US Department
of Agriculture. It arises as a support for health professionals in the field of food in the face of the
problem of widespread obesity in this country. It can be said that it is an evolution of the classic
nutritional pyramid.

My plate is divided into portions of different colors that represent the different food groups and the
ideal portion to be eaten from each of them.

Differences between my plate and the nutritional pyramid

The fundamental difference is clear, my plate represents ideal percentages of food consumption, while
the pyramid represents ideal frequency of food consumption. for example, both indicate that the
majority consumption must be foods of plant origin, while my plate indicates that they must be 3/4 in
each meal, the pyramid indicates that the consumption must be daily and majority.

Although my plate is very clear in terms of proportions, it is more general than the pyramid, not
differentiating within the food group which is the most appropriate, while the pyramid does indicate
which are the most recommended foods.

Ideally, make a combination of both guides, so that one complements the other.

However, Harvard University The healthy dish d has already corrected these shortcomings, and has
presented a new guide, called ‘The healthy eating dish’, which is an update of the first published My
dish. And this is when they are indicated which are the most appropriate foods for a good diet. Not only
that, but also the practice of physical activity is included on a regular basis as a recommendation for
healthy living, as well as the consumption of water and fat in the form of vegetable oils.

How could we bring “My Plate” to the table?

Translating the information on my plate into food can be complicated for people without knowledge of
nutrition, what you have to keep in mind is that the majority intake should be from plant-based foods,
such as cereals, vegetables, vegetables and fruits, being minimal the contribution of protein foods based
on lean meats and fish.

Usefulness of both?

Both can be an aid to maintain a healthy diet, being able to adapt the rations or frequencies of
consumption according to one or the other depending on the age of the population to which it is
addressed (children, adults, elderly, ...) and even adapt them to certain pathologies and feeding styles