Say Goodbye to the Food Pyramid & Say Hello to the PLATE!

You may have thought the well-known Food Pyramid, the commonly referenced nutritional icon, was here to stay as the authority regarding balanced proportions in planning regular diets, as well as establishing safe eating plans for those who need or have undergone weight loss surgery.

As of 2011, however, you can say goodbye to the old Food Pyramid and hello to the MyPlate – that’s right, the new nutritional icon is a standard food plate, with sections for healthy portions of the right combinations of food. The plate offers a far more understandable visual concept of what a healthy meal should look like and what it should include – and by omission, what a meal should NOT include.

Now known as MyPlate, the new nutritional icon abides by guidelines calling for relatively equal portions of four main food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. In addition, the new icon includes a circle appearing as a glass next to the Plate, representing dairy products. The servings are smaller, and half of the ideal meal would consist of fruits and vegetables.

This new nutritional icon more accurately emphasizes healthy servings in quantity and types of food. Both are key factors in addressing the obesity epidemic occurring in America. People need to combine healthy eating habits with regular exercise, in order to combat health problems that often result in overweight conditions requiring weight loss surgery, such as Lap Band surgery.

Residents who live in or near Tampa, Florida, have the advantage of numerous weight loss programs and clinics to address their specific individual needs. Some programs are available on location, while others are accessible online. Often offering free consultations, professionals will help individuals determine if they need to follow weight loss programs combining MyPlate guidelines and exercise, or if they could benefit from healthy diets along with weight loss surgery, including Lap Band surgery.