The Sacramento Bee – Sammy Caiola
“For generations, American schoolchildren were taught to eat their way to the top of the “food pyramid” of dairy, vegetables, fruits and meats. Now, kids are being given dramatically different advice: Follow the “plate.” The old model gave starches such as rice, bread and cereal the king’s share at the base of the pyramid, while produce, proteins and dairy occupied smaller and smaller compartments. Scramble that pyramid, nix all but a palm-sized portion of grains, add a super-serving of veggies, plus proteins and a side of milk, and you get the staples of a healthful school lunch, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for kids, issued in 2013. The department’s “ChooseMyPlate” campaign recommends a half of each meal be devoted to fruits and vegetables, with another quarter each allotted to protein and grains, and a smaller serving of dairy suggested on the side.”(more)