By: David Donovan

At Independent Health, we're dedicated to keeping our members and the community up to date on the latest news and information. 

New Healthy Eating Guidelines Issued by the USDA

You may have noticed a change recently to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) nutrition guidelines.   Gone is the "Food Pyramid," which was used as the nation's healthy eating guide for almost 20 years.  Replacing it is the new "Food Plate," which shows the balance of the food groups and helps people choose healthier options.  The Food Pyramid was used as a guideline for healthy eating; the Food Plate is a more visual guide showing people what to fill their plates with and how much is appropriate.

The Food Plate recommends that half of the plate be filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with whole grains and a quarter with lean protein.  There's also a side "cup" for dairy products.

The Food Plate focuses on three areas: balancing calories, increasing healthier foods, and reducing foods high in sugars and hidden sodium.  The Food Plate also addresses the important issue of portion control, that it is OK to enjoy certain foods, but in moderation.   It also encourages people to drink more water, skip the sugary processed drinks and to switch to fat free or reduced fat milk. 

At Independent Health, we've always encouraged our members to make healthy eating choices, either at home or dining out.  The Healthy Options Program, started in 2004 by the Independent Health Foundation, works with area restaurants to offer heart-healthy food options for their customers, items are lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium.  Close to 70 local restaurants participate in the Healthy Options program.   By visiting healthyoptionsbuffalo.com, you are able to click on your favorite participating restaurant and see which healthy options are on the menu. 

The Food Plate and additional information is available by clicking here.