In line with her ongoing obesity campaign, first lady Michelle Obama has revealed MyPlate, the USDA’s new food groups symbol. It is much easier to understand than its confusing food pyramid predecessors. I mean, how much is a “serving” anyway? Apparently my bowl holds 2-3 servings of breakfast cereal if I measure it according to the box. Regardless, we eat off of plates for the most part anyway and few of us take the time to measure portions. Thus, the MyPlate design is fitting and visually depicts how much we should eat of each food group in order to be healthy.

Much more information can be found on the MyPlate website, but the major changes Michelle Obama wants us to make to our diet are the following:

Balance Calories

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase

• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Make at least half your grains whole grains.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Related post: New FDA dietary guidelines (2/4/11)