The old USDA food pyramid came toppling down not long ago and officials have recently unveiled an updated version of food recommendations for daily nutrition.

First Lady Michelle Obama said of the new guidelines, “We’re all bombarded by so many dietary messages, it’s hard to find time to sort through all this information. When it comes to eating, what’s more simple than a plate?”

The new guidelines look promising, as they recommend filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables and a fourth of it with grains.

Even better, the protein component does not specify that portion of the meal come from animal products. Finally, dairy is pushed to the side of the plate, hinting that if you’re an omnivore, it shouldn’t be a major source of calories, especially considering its cholesterol and fat content.

Ideally, the plate would list items under each category that fit the requirement and many of those items would be plant sources. Additionally, it would have been nice to say that calcium can be obtained from numerous plant sources like kale.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which sued the U.S. government for not honoring a vegetarian food pyramid in its eating guidelines, has also crafted a food plate that tell exactly what plant sources to get protein and calcium from.

After examining both the USDA Food Plate and the Power Plate, which one do you think has more power to change America’s eating habits?

Photo: PR Photos

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