Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today praised the USDA for replacing the food pyramid with a plate as the visual guide to a healthy diet.

"I like the look of this because it's something people can actually relate to—who eats out of a pyramid?" said Pingree. "The plate provides an everyday reference that children will easily be able to understand. It teaches them a simple but incredibly effective rule of thumb. When you sit down to eat, fruits and vegetables should cover half your plate."

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and First Lady Michelle Obama launched the MyPlate icon this morning. The image represents fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy in their approximate healthy portions.

"When mom or dad comes home from a long day of work, we're already asked to be a chef, a referee, a cleaning crew. So it's tough to be a nutritionist, too," Obama said. "But we do have time to look at our kids' plates. As long as they're half full of fruits and vegetable, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we're golden. That's how easy it is."

Pingree met with Undersecretary of Agriculture Kevin Concannon last week to discuss the new MyPlate icons.

"An important part of these MyPlate symbols is how they emphasize eating more vegetables and fruits. Kevin and I talked about how that starts with the fresh, locally produced foods available in our own communities," Pingree said. "The new MyPlate symbol is a great complement to school lunch programs that serve healthy, local foods. Together, they will be a powerful combination in getting children on the right track of healthy eating habits. "

Pingree, a member of the House Agriculture Committee and an organic farmer herself, has introduced legislation to allow schools to use a portion of federal commodity funding to buy local foods.