What are differences between healthy eating plate and MyPlate?
The concept of healthy eating has evolved over the years, with various dietary guidelines and tools aiming to promote balanced nutrition. Two popular tools used to visualize and plan healthy meals are the Healthy Eating Plate and MyPlate. While both aim to guide individuals towards making healthier food choices, there are notable differences between the two.
The Healthy Eating Plate, developed by Harvard School of Public Health, emphasizes the importance of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy proteins, while also highlighting the need to limit sugar-sweetened beverages and red meat. On the other hand, MyPlate, created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), focuses on dividing a plate into sections representing the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy.
One of the primary differences between the Healthy Eating Plate and MyPlate is the emphasis on different food groups. The Healthy Eating Plate places a strong emphasis on vegetables and fruits, suggesting that they should occupy half of the plate. This is in line with the latest research highlighting the importance of consuming a wide variety of vegetables and fruits for optimal health. In contrast, MyPlate suggests that fruits and vegetables should each take up one quarter of the plate, which may result in a lower overall proportion of these essential nutrients.
Another significant difference is the inclusion of dairy products. The Healthy Eating Plate recommends including a variety of dairy foods, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, but suggests limiting or avoiding dairy products that are high in added sugars. MyPlate, however, includes a separate section for dairy, suggesting that dairy products should be consumed daily. This may lead to higher consumption of dairy products, including those high in added sugars and saturated fats.
Furthermore, the Healthy Eating Plate emphasizes the importance of whole grains, suggesting that they should make up the majority of the grains consumed. This is in line with the recommendation to limit refined grains and focus on whole grains for better health. MyPlate, on the other hand, suggests that half of the grains consumed should be whole grains, which may still result in a significant intake of refined grains.
Lastly, the Healthy Eating Plate encourages the consumption of healthy proteins, such as fish, poultry, legumes, and nuts, while limiting red meat and processed meats. MyPlate, however, suggests that proteins should make up a quarter of the plate, which may lead to a higher consumption of red meat and processed meats, as these are commonly consumed as protein sources.
In conclusion, the Healthy Eating Plate and MyPlate offer different perspectives on how to create a balanced and healthy meal. While both tools emphasize the importance of consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins, and dairy, the Healthy Eating Plate places a stronger emphasis on vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and healthy proteins, while MyPlate focuses on dividing the plate into equal sections for each food group. Understanding these differences can help individuals make informed decisions about their dietary choices and prioritize the nutrients that are most beneficial for their health.
