What is the name of the food plate chart?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) replaced the long-standing Food Guide Pyramid with a new food chart in 2011. The official name of the food plate chart promoted by the USDA is MyPlate, a modern and simplified visual tool designed to help Americans make healthier food choices.

Quick Summary

Several organizations, including the USDA and Harvard, have developed food plate charts to offer nutritional guidance. MyPlate is the official chart from the USDA, while the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers its own version, the Healthy Eating Plate. This article explains the key features and differences between these prominent visual guides to help consumers eat a more balanced diet.

Key Points

• MyPlate is the official name: The USDA's food plate chart is called MyPlate, which replaced the Food Guide Pyramid in 2011.

• MyPlate divides into five groups: It uses a place setting graphic to show the relative proportions of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

• Harvard offers an alternative: The Harvard Healthy Eating Plate is a separate, science-based guide that refines MyPlate's recommendations, particularly regarding fats and beverages.

• Key differences exist: The Harvard chart differs from MyPlate by promoting healthy oils, favoring water over dairy, and specifying whole grains over all grains.

• Charts reflect evolving science: The history of these guides shows a move from pyramids to plates, adapting to new nutritional evidence and public health goals.

• Both are valuable tools: You can use either chart to visualize and build more balanced meals, with the Harvard guide offering a more detailed, science-backed approach.

Understanding the USDA's MyPlate

The most widely recognized answer to "What is the name of the food plate chart?" is MyPlate, the current nutrition guide from the United States Department of Agriculture. Launched in 2011, MyPlate replaced the previous MyPyramid, presenting a simpler, at-a-glance graphic that depicts a balanced meal on a familiar place setting.

The five food groups of MyPlate

MyPlate divides the plate into five color-coded sections to represent the core food groups:

• Fruits (Red): The smallest section of the plate, though it emphasizes eating a variety of fruits.
• Vegetables (Green): Occupies the largest portion of the plate, highlighting the importance of a wide array of vegetables.
• Grains (Orange): Accounts for just over a quarter of the plate, with a focus on making at least half of all grain intake whole grains.
• Protein (Purple): Takes up the remaining quarter, promoting a variety of protein sources like lean meats, poultry, beans, and nuts.
• Dairy (Blue circle): Represented by a glass or side dish, it encourages incorporating dairy products into the meal.

MyPlate's core messaging

In addition to the visual, MyPlate is supported by key messages to guide better eating habits:

1. Balance Calories: Enjoy your food, but eat less and avoid oversized portions.
2. Increase Foods: Make half your plate fruits and vegetables and switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.
3. Reduce Foods: Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt.

The Healthy Eating Plate: A Science-Based Alternative

While MyPlate is the official government guide, nutrition experts at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Health Publications developed an alternative called the Healthy Eating Plate. This version was created to address perceived shortcomings in the USDA's guide and is based exclusively on independent, peer-reviewed nutritional science, free from industry influence.

Key differences in the Harvard plate

The Healthy Eating Plate modifies several of MyPlate's recommendations, including:

• Healthy Oils: Explicitly includes a section for healthy fats (like olive and canola oil), a category MyPlate is silent on.
• Beverages: Emphasizes drinking water, coffee, or tea instead of the dairy focus promoted by the USDA. It also limits juice intake due to its high sugar content.
• Dairy: Recommends limiting dairy to one or two servings per day, noting insufficient evidence for high dairy intake and potential health risks associated with it.
• Grains: Specifies a preference for whole grains and limits refined grains.
• Protein: Provides more detailed guidance on protein sources, distinguishing between healthy protein (fish, chicken, nuts, beans) and limiting less healthy options (red meat and processed meats).
• Physical Activity: Prominently features a running figure at the base of the placemat, reinforcing that staying active is crucial for weight management.

Comparison of MyPlate vs. Healthy Eating Plate

Feature	MyPlate (USDA)	Healthy Eating Plate (Harvard)
Primary Beverage	Emphasizes dairy consumption as a separate group.	Promotes water, coffee, and tea; limits milk and dairy to 1-2 servings/day.
Fats	No specific mention; historically promoted a low-fat message.	Includes a dedicated segment for healthy oils (e.g., olive, canola) and explicitly avoids trans fats.
Protein	Categorizes all meats, beans, and soy together.	Differentiates between healthy protein sources (fish, nuts) and less healthy options (red meat, processed meats).
Grains	Promotes grains, with a suggestion for half being whole grain.	Specifically recommends whole grains and advises limiting refined grains.
Sugary Drinks	Provides no specific guidance.	Directly advises avoiding sugary beverages.
Physical Activity	Mentioned on the accompanying website, but not on the central graphic.	Prominently features a graphic element encouraging daily activity.

Historical context and the evolution of food charts

The modern food plate chart is not the first attempt by health organizations to create a visual dietary guide. The concept has evolved significantly over decades. Before the plate, the pyramid was the dominant graphic. The USDA's original Food Guide Pyramid was released in 1992 and replaced its earlier guides, like the "Basic Four" and "Basic Seven". MyPyramid, a more abstract and less clear version, followed in 2005 before being replaced by MyPlate in 2011. These updates reflect evolving nutritional science and public health messaging. The history shows a shift towards more direct and intuitive visual guides, though different scientific perspectives, like Harvard's, continue to refine the recommendations.

Choosing the right food plate chart for you

For most people, either MyPlate or the Healthy Eating Plate can be an effective tool for improving diet. The USDA's MyPlate offers a straightforward, government-backed visualization that is easy to understand for all ages. However, the Healthy Eating Plate from Harvard provides more nuanced, evidence-based recommendations, particularly concerning fats, protein, and dairy, which many experts consider a more accurate reflection of current nutritional science. The best guide is the one you will actually use. Understanding the variations and the science behind them empowers you to make informed decisions about your diet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the official government food plate chart in the U.S. is MyPlate, other reputable versions exist, such as the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate. MyPlate provides a simple, basic guide to portioning food groups, but the Healthy Eating Plate offers a more specific and up-to-date scientific perspective, including clearer advice on healthy fats, grains, and beverages. By understanding what is the name of the food plate chart and exploring the distinctions between the different versions, you can use these tools to build balanced meals and promote a healthier lifestyle. The ongoing evolution of these charts underscores the importance of staying informed and seeking the latest scientific advice on nutrition.

For additional context on official dietary guidelines, you can visit the USDA's official MyPlate website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the name of the government's food chart?

The official food chart from the United States government's Department of Agriculture (USDA) is called MyPlate.

What is the difference between the MyPlate and Healthy Eating Plate?

The main differences are that the Healthy Eating Plate from Harvard specifies the type of fats to eat, promotes water over dairy, and encourages whole grains, whereas the USDA's MyPlate is less specific on these details.

What were the food charts called before MyPlate?

Before MyPlate, the USDA used the Food Guide Pyramid (1992-2005) and its successor, MyPyramid (2005-2011).

Does the Healthy Eating Plate include physical activity?

Yes, the Healthy Eating Plate developed by Harvard includes a graphic element of a person running to emphasize the importance of daily physical activity.

Why did the USDA change from a pyramid to a plate?

The USDA switched to MyPlate to create a more simple, relatable, and easy-to-understand visual guide for meal planning. The plate shape is a familiar visual cue that people can use to proportion their meals.

What is the significance of the water glass on the Healthy Eating Plate?

The glass of water on the Healthy Eating Plate is a powerful visual reminder to prioritize water as the primary beverage over high-sugar drinks or excessive dairy.

Can I use both MyPlate and the Healthy Eating Plate for guidance?

Yes, both guides offer sound principles for eating a balanced diet. You can use MyPlate for its simplicity and incorporate the more specific recommendations from the Healthy Eating Plate regarding fats, dairy, and hydration.