Choose My Plate: Fast Food Generation Grows Up to Healthy Living

The US Department of Agriculture announced its Choose My Plate initiative to help Americans wise up and lose the "fast food mentality" of sizing up. If we knew then what we know now....

Seriously, I grew up in a middle-class, educated family and we were very active. Since I remember the first McDonald's to come to our town/suburbia - next to our small town -and I recall the KFC, the Burger King, the Taco Tico (scary), etc. And Lord bless us, the fried catfish houses. Call the Ambulance - "All you can eat."

To my amazing parents defense, they often delighted in taking us to the 5 Star restaurants of New Orleans. Brennan's, Galatoirie's, Court of Two Sisters etc.

Still. Fast food American caught our town. After winning 1st Place in our State Basketball Championship, the bus stopped at McDonald's.... Quarter Pounder, Fries and a Coke. Gasp!

It wasn't until I struggled with putting on pounds that I begin to learn what was the cause. Did we have nutrition classes that told us the food is soaked in grease? Or that Lard is the lead ingredient? Or Caffeine laden carbonated drinks leach your bones of nutrients?

Now, the Government is trying to get us back to the basics. Eat smaller portions and eat a variety of healthy foods. Not foods that you cannot pronounce because they do not contain food!

And they have these Free Interactive Tools that actually give meal plans and tracking options. As a die-hard Weight Watchers Member, these things make a difference and they work!

You can read more in the My Plate Press Release here.

Here is First Lady Michelle Obama on the My Plate reveal:

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ELzRhmLRkFA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>iframe>

The plan is basically this:

Balancing 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.

The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an organization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was established in 1994 to improve the nutrition and well-being of Americans. Toward this goal, the Center focuses its efforts on two primary objectives:

Advance and promote dietary guidance for all Americans, and
Conduct applied research and analyses in nutrition and consumer economics.

Just think drinking water can make a world of difference in your intake and energy level. Are you a part of the fast food generation? Are you willing to change from fast food generation to healthy living? How do you do it?!

Warmly, Carolina Mama