According to First Lady Obama, "When mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we’re already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew. So it’s tough to be a nutritionist, too. But we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates. As long as they’re half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we’re golden. That’s how easy it is.” Can't we all relate to that! Here's my take on it...
In terms of following an Eat-Clean Diet, I agree with First Lady Obama's recommendations for the most part. However, I would add in a healthy fat portion, such as olive oil dressing, nuts or seeds on a salad, or cooking in coconut oil. I would also emphasize the veggies more than fruit. I also would recommend more water than milk, since calcium and vitamin D can be attained from many sources other than milk. But overall this a great step forward in helping moms and dads make good choices.
See pg. 25 in The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids for my take on the food pyramid.
Will you be adopting MyPlate?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the message is a good one. It is a simplified version of the Clean Eating, and yet because the average American diet is so unhealthy, these guidelines will make a tremendous impact. When people are ready to move to the next level, the more advanced versions with healthy fats etc... there are more resources available. In that sense, we allow people to grow into their health by providing manageable bits long the way.
ReplyDeleteI do hope that in addition to the plate, they provide lots of picture-examples of foods for each category and maybe measurements so really concrete thinkers and visual/kinesthetic learners can benefit.
My entire family follows clean eating, the only thing I would take from MyPlate is emphasizing milk for my 1.5 year old daughter, though she prefers water, I have a hard time keeping weight on my tiny bug because she is so active. I add healthy fat to all her meals, but it's not enough, and so the milk seems to help.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fantastic that Michelle Obama has taken on this project. Teaching families and especially children early on about proper nutrition is so important for life-long health. The marketing of junky "kid foods" is so powerful. Cheese singles, Kraft dinner, Cheez Whiz, yogurt in a tube, gummy "fruit" snacks, they're all pushed as being good for kids but they're so bad. They're not even really food, are they? So great to see that none of that is in this new "My Plate" program.
ReplyDeleteI think the split between the groups looks good. When I was growing up it was 2/5ths meat, 2/5ths potatoes or rice and 1/5th vegetables. As an adult over half my plate is full of veggies. My daughter is 10-months old and loves her vegetables and fruits. She loves quinoa, too, but we're going through a phase of wanting to feed herself everything so that's not too easy to pick up. I try to lead by example and not give her "kid" foods becuase I would not eat them myself.
I see a lot of teenage girls walking around that look skinny except for a pronounced "muffin top" over their hips, some as young looking as maybe 10 or 11. It's pretty sad to see kids so young with that, because it's probably caused by poor nutrition and will lead to problems later.
I do think it is a step in the right direction. Poor eating habits impacts us all.
ReplyDeleteI'm just gonna say, I completely agree with you! How can I not? You are the Queen of Eating Clean!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Roxie-Girl
Why more emphasis on veggies rather than fruit? I dislike veggies but eat lots of fruit along with my lean protein and whole grains. Isn't that clean eating?
ReplyDelete