As the rapper Eminem may say, will the real healthy plate, please stand up? Please stand up?
The Harvard School of Public Health, just released it’s Healthy Eating Plate, in a press release this afternoon, Sept 14, 2011. No doubt in response to the USDA MyPlate released earlier this year. I love the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate! Here are the things I like about it:
1) Veggies Veggies Veggies – The biggest spot on the plate is for veggies (very similar to the MyPlate). The “more” and “the more variety the better”! Gota love that! Oh and by the way, they specifically say, “Potatoes and french fries don’t count.” Just so you know ;o)
2) Drink Water (not milk)! – I do not see dairy on here anywhere on the image! Why? Well, maybe because this is based on science and not who is giving you money? They say to, “Drink water, tea, or coffee (with little or no sugar). Limit dairy (1-2 servings per day) and juice (1 small glass/day). Avoid sugary drinks.” According to this press release, the USDA MyPlate “…recommends dairy at every meal, even though there is little evidence that high dairy intake protects against osteoporosis but substantial evidence that high intake can be harmful;” Ouch! Here is a link to a blog I did on calcium.
3) Healthy Protein – I like that they called out specific meats to avoid. “Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meats; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats.”
Here is a link to the entire press release so you can read it all, but here are my favorite parts (just to tease you a little):
“Unfortunately, like the earlier U.S. Department of Agriculture Pyramids, MyPlate mixes science with the influence of powerful agricultural interests, which is not the recipe for healthy eating,” said Walter Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition and chair of the Department of Nutrition at HSPH. “The Healthy Eating Plate is based on the best available scientific evidence and provides consumers with the information they need to make choices that can profoundly affect our health and well being.”
Wow, them’s fightin words!
“The Healthy Eating Plate is based on the latest and best scientific evidence which shows that a plant-based diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and healthy proteins lowers the risk of weight gain and chronic disease. Helping Americans get the best possible nutrition advice is of critical importance as the U.S. and the world faces a burgeoning obesity epidemic.”
OK, let me repeat that, because I think I must be hearing things:
“the latest and best scientific evidence which shows that a plant-based diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and healthy proteins lowers the risk of weight gain and chronic disease.”
Hmm, that is fascinating! OK, just one more for fun and then I will let you go and read the full press release:
“One of the most important fields of medical science over the past 50 years is the research that shows just how powerfully our health is affected by what we eat.”
Wow! I think I am speechless! Our health is “powerfully” affected by what we eat! How about that!
