USDA Food Icon

Here is it!

This is the USDA's new food icon which replaces the food pyramid. I love the simplicity of this tool. And, there is more information on the USDA website including the following summary:

Balancing Calories

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Make at least half your grains whole grains.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Simple, clear messages such as these will help consumers a great deal. While this tool doesn't go as far as "The Real Food Plate" we introduced yesterday, it is a huge leap better. Well done, USDA, well done.