This poster was created in 1919. The government thought this constituted a healthy meal. A lot has changed about our dietary needs. We have had years of carb loading as an official government policy. The USDA last year again changed its guidelines. The food pyramid asking us to eat six to eleven servings a day of bread, cereal, rice and pasta has been replaced. Since 2011, we have a simpler graphic of a plate divided into sections for vegetables, fruit, protein and grains. You can have a little dairy on the side.
What have been the past recommendations by the government for nutrition? What are some of the other posters issued? Do you think we are now making the best recommendations?
Travel through the orange alimentary canal for a look. Try to ignore the borborygmus.
What got me interested in this as a diary topic is the November 2011 Food Network magazine. While waiting at the blood bank or the doctor's office, I found that issue. (Are the magazine collections at your waiting rooms as eclectic as those at mine?)
The U.S. government early on recommended few fruit and vegetables. They didn't have enough protein. Workers needed protein for energy to do a hard day's work. Vitamins were discovered in the early 1900's. Fruits and vegetables started getting better billing. Healthy meals still revolved around milk. The nation’s top nutrition experts advised drinking whole milk over skim for kids. They also advised buttering their bread. Use plenty of butter. The government also recommended a dinner consisting of milk toast, stewed peaches, and a cupcake.
The government started publishing some nutrition guidelines for children in this 1939 poster and some pamphlets in the early 1930s. People were more aware about getting the vitamins they needed. The USDA recommended cereal that was vitamin-enriched. Lots of butter was still suggested. Specific recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) were introduced around 1941.
The USDA decided to reduce the 12 major food groups it had recognized since 1933 down to 7. They were called “The Basic 7.” The agency printed this poster the following year in 1943 to illustrate the new system. Butter and fortified margarine were their own category. Both contain vitamin A. Recommended daily allowances were not included for the groups until 1946. Experts advised eating from all the groups. This 1943 poster is probably familiar to many of the readers.
By the 1990s, the government realized that our diets were too high in fat. It was recognized as a cause of heart disease. As a result, the USDA created the food pyramid. The pyramid advised sparing consumption of fats. Instead, it told us to eat plenty of bread, cereal, pasta, and rice. This poster was published around 1992.
The next nutrition poster iteration appeared as this in 2000. The Team Nutrition campaign advised plenty of food from the bread group. Kids were encouraged to eat more grain, fruit, and vegetables. Less fat was encouraged. Some odd suggestions were in it. Eat more vegetables such as potato salad and french fries. Have some pudding for dairy.
To much fanfare, the latest version of recommendations is the MyPlate campaign.
MyPlate illustrates the five food groups that are the building blocks for a healthy diet using a familiar image—a place setting for a meal. Before you eat, think about what goes on your plate or in your cup or bowl. To learn more about building a healthy plate, select a food group below.
Choose from the following:
Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy. Within the link, each group is illustrated with a link to examples of the various choices.
What do you think? Have we made the right kind of progress with nutritional information campaigns over the years? Are there approaches you feel would be better? Do you have first-hand experience with the field and insight you can offer? I am interested in reading your comments.