Fort Myers Daycare Supports USDA Change from Pyramid to Myplate
Child Care of Southwest Florida, a local Fort Myers Daycare, announces it supports the new icon released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture called "MyPlate", representing the agreed upon standard of a healthy diet.

FORT MYERS, FL, August 27, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Fort Myers Daycare, Child Care of Southwest Florida, announces its support of the recently released icon by the U.S. Department of Agriculture called "MyPlate". This icon is a new visual which represents the agreed upon standard of a healthy diet. "MyPlate" will replace the previously used "food pyramid", which has served as the icon to represent a healthy diet for nearly the past 20 years.

First lady Michelle Obama, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack unveiled the new icon this past June. It's called MyPlate, and it features four colored sections representing fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. Next to the plate is a smaller circle representing dairy products.

"The new symbol will be much easier to apply to everyday life. We are always thrilled with information that promotes healthy nutrition," says Child Care of Southwest Florida's executive director, Beth Lobdell.

The USDA emphasizes several important nutrition messages on the MyPlate website. These include tips such as: eat smaller portions, make at least half the plate fruits and vegetables, and avoid sugary drinks.

MyPlate is the launching point in Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative. This is an effort to raise awareness and educate consumers about making healthy food choices, balanced with physical activity.

The original Food Pyramid, released in 1992, included the four food groups stacked in the shape of a pyramid. Each level showed the number of recommended servings a person should eat from the respective food group in a day. The widest part of the pyramid featured foods such as breads, cereals and grains, that should make up most of the diet. Fats were at the top of the pyramid, indicating they should be used sparingly.

The new symbol, MyPlate, is divided into servings of four food groups, with recommended portion sizes, represented by how much of the plate each group occupies. Vegetables and fruit take up a majority of the plate, then grains, and lastly protein. The dairy portion is represented by a glass of milk along side the plate.

Press Release Contact Information:

Linda McNabb
Child Care of Southwest Florida
Director of Development
6831 Palisades Park Ct. Suite 6
Fort Myers, Florida
United States 33912
Voice: (239) 278-1002
Website: Visit Our Website