Re: Food Pyramid versus MyPlate
Rob Waller <[email protected]> Fri, 3 Jun 2011 10:15:33 +0100
| Newsgroups | gmane.comp.infodesign.general |
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--===============0811630656== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=Apple-Mail-28-220335771 --Apple-Mail-28-220335771 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 This looks to me like a very interesting design and I'll seek out the = research that no doubt lies behind it. I am impressed that something as = simple as this has been negotiated, as it is fairly memorable and also = simple enough to be reproduced on food packaging and menus. I can also = see it's potential power as a template against which to compare your = actual plate, and I can see it used for nutrition education - actual = plates can be judged against it, card sorts used and meals planned.=20 I believe people are pretty attuned to comparing portions of a circle = (trained as children to monitor the fair slicing of cakes), whereas = pyramids involve comparing different sizes and shapes. Pyramids also = have the inherent problem of unreliable symbolism. Although they are = intended to reflect different proportions, so less necessary foods are = at the top, in other circumstances the top signifies high attainment - = self-fulfillment in Maslow, the winner's podium... and of course the = foods at the bottom are peasant fare, while the sugar, cream and = chocolate at the top is the food of kings. No data, just conjecture. In terms of what the proportions should actually be, that's down to the = nutritionists to debate. Some issues that occur to me are: - I was interested to see how dairy is treated as a side dish or drink, = which may be how it comes in the form of milk, yogurt or ice cream, but = people may have a problem knowing where cheese fits in. Gastronomically = it is probably seen as part of the protein component in a meal. - I wonder why fruit is not similarly treated. Including it on the main = plate reduces the power of the plate as a template.=20 - I wonder where potatoes fit in (vegetable? or playing the same = gastronomic role as pasta or rice which are from grains?). Perhaps it is = different the USA but in the UK I don't think 'grains' would be = accurately understood. But it's important not to be too picky about simplified solutions, if = they do a good job in moving people in the right direction. The UK's = five-a-day campaign (refers to portions of fruit or veg) has caught on = well and entered into the public consciousness, although I don't what = actual effect on consumption has resulted. I was involved with the development of the UK's national food guide in = the early 90s. A pyramid was compared with a plate, and no significant = difference in comprehension was found in a fairly comprehensive = task-based study involving over 2000 participants. A plate was chosen = based on a marginal preference rather than performance. The design we used (the result of extensive negotations involving health = professionals, designers, government and the food industry, rather than = an inspired creative process) was extremely detailed in its portrayal = of food, and was very compromised by political lobbying by the food = industry. In particular, fatty/sugary snacks were heavily defended and = so included in what purports to show a healthy diet.=20 The UK's plate was poorly promoted, did not catch on widely, and has now = virtually disappeared from view. Google struggled to find any trace, = except for this website: = http://www.bdaweightwise.com/eating/eating_diet.html and some journal articles such as this one: = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17539873 __________________________________ Rob Waller=20 The Simplification Centre 07850 665933 [email protected] www.simplificationcentre.org.uk On 3 Jun 2011, at 04:15, Frank Marchak wrote: > Greetings. >=20 > The United States Department of Agriculture has replaced the Food = Pyramid =96 used to guide healthy food choices =96 with MyPlate = (www.choosemyplate.gov). >=20 > While some criticisms of the original pyramid still remain with the = new design (e.g., presented only in English, takes no account of level = of exercise), this is the first change since the pyramid replaced an = equal quadrant square graphic developed in the 1980s. >=20 > I have my own opinions of the new approach, but wanted to query the = caf=E9 to get the views of other members. Does this design present a = less complicated approach that can be understood by a wider audience? = Can people more readily comprehend a pie chart approach versus a = pyramidal representation? Does the plate better reflect new findings in = nutrition (e.g., perhaps carbohydrates should not form the base of a = balanced diet)? Are circles better received than triangles? >=20 >=20 > Thoughts? >=20 > Regards, >=20 > Frank >=20 > -------------------------------------- >=20 > Frank M. Marchak, Ph.D. >=20 > Veridical Research and Design Corporation >=20 > 211 West Main Street - Lower Level >=20 > PO Box 6503 >=20 > Bozeman, MT 59771-6503 USA >=20 > 406.522.9045 : tel >=20 > 406.522.9048 : fax >=20 > 406.581.0870 : cel >=20 > www.vradc.com >=20 >=20 >=20 > ___________________________________________________________________ >=20 > Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:=20 > [email protected] >=20 > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: > http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe >=20 > For all Information Design matters: > http://InformationDesign.org >=20 > Problems? Write to: > [email protected] > ___________________________________________________________________ --Apple-Mail-28-220335771 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 <html><head></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; = -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; = "><div>This looks to me like a very interesting design and I'll seek out = the research that no doubt lies behind it. I am impressed that something = as simple as this has been negotiated, as it is fairly memorable and = also simple enough to be reproduced on food packaging and menus. I can = also see it's potential power as a template against which to compare = your actual plate, and I can see it used for nutrition education - = actual plates can be judged against it, card sorts used and meals = planned. </div><div><br></div><div>I believe people are pretty = attuned to comparing portions of a circle (trained as children to = monitor the fair slicing of cakes), whereas pyramids involve comparing = different sizes and shapes. Pyramids also have the inherent problem = of unreliable symbolism. Although they are intended to reflect different = proportions, so less necessary foods are at the top, in other = circumstances the top signifies high attainment - self-fulfillment in = Maslow, the winner's podium... and of course the foods at the bottom are = peasant fare, while the sugar, cream and chocolate at the top is the = food of kings. No data, just conjecture.</div><div><br></div><div>In = terms of what the proportions should actually be, that's down to the = nutritionists to debate. Some issues that occur to me = are:</div><div><br></div><div>- I was interested to see how dairy is = treated as a side dish or drink, which may be how it comes in the form = of milk, yogurt or ice cream, but people may have a problem knowing = where cheese fits in. Gastronomically it is probably seen as part of the = protein component in a meal.</div><div><br></div><div>- I wonder why = fruit is not similarly treated. Including it on the main plate reduces = the power of the plate as a template. </div><div><br></div><div>- I = wonder where potatoes fit in (vegetable? or playing the same gastronomic = role as pasta or rice which are from grains?). Perhaps it is different = the USA but in the UK I don't think 'grains' would be accurately = understood.</div><div><br></div><div>But it's important not to be too = picky about simplified solutions, if they do a good job in moving people = in the right direction. The UK's five-a-day campaign (refers to portions = of fruit or veg) has caught on well and entered into the public = consciousness, although I don't what actual effect on consumption has = resulted.</div><div><br></div><div>I was involved with the development = of the UK's national food guide in the early 90s. A pyramid was compared = with a plate, and no significant difference in comprehension was found = in a fairly comprehensive task-based study involving over 2000 = participants. A plate was chosen based on a marginal preference rather = than performance.</div><div><br></div><div>The design we used (the = result of extensive negotations involving health professionals, = designers, government and the food industry, rather than an = inspired creative process) was extremely detailed in its portrayal = of food, and was very compromised by political lobbying by the food = industry. In particular, fatty/sugary snacks were heavily defended and = so included in what purports to show a healthy = diet. </div><div><br></div><div>The UK's plate was poorly promoted, = did not catch on widely, and has now virtually disappeared from view. = Google struggled to find any trace, except for this website: <a = href=3D"http://www.bdaweightwise.com/eating/eating_diet.html">http://www.b= daweightwise.com/eating/eating_diet.html</a></div><div>and some journal = articles such as this one: <a = href=3D"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17539873">http://www.ncbi.nlm.n= ih.gov/pubmed/17539873</a></div><div><br></div><br><div> <div style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; = ">__________________________________<br><br>Rob Waller <br>The = Simplification Centre<br><br>07850 665933<br><a = href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">rob.waller@simplifi= cationcentre.org.uk</a><br>www.simplificationcentre.org.uk<br><br><br></di= v> </div> <br><div><div>On 3 Jun 2011, at 04:15, Frank Marchak wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"> <div> <!-- Converted from text/rtf format --><p dir=3D"LTR"><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">Greetings.</font></span></p><p = dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">The United = States Department of Agriculture has replaced the Food = Pyramid</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">=96</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"> used to guide healthy food ch</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">oices</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"> <font face=3D"Calibri">=96</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> with MyPlate (</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><a href=3D"http://www.choosemyplate.gov/"><span = lang=3D"en-us"><u><font color=3D"#0000FF" = face=3D"Calibri">www.choosemyplate.gov</font></u></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span></a><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">)</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">.</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> </span></p><p = dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">While</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">s</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">ome</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">criticisms</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"> of the original</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> = <font face=3D"Calibri">pyramid</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"></font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">still remain</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">with the new design</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> = <font face=3D"Calibri">(</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">e.g.,</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">presented only in English, takes no account of level of = exercise)</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">,</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"></font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">this is the first change since t</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">he pyramid = replace</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">d</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"></font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">a</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">n equal quadrant square graphic developed in the = 1980s.</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> </span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">I have my own</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"> <font face=3D"Calibri">opinions</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> o</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">f</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us">= <font face=3D"Calibri">the new approach, bu</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">t wanted</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> to query the</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"> <font face=3D"Calibri">caf=E9</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> to get the</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"> <font face=3D"Calibri">views</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> of other</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> members</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">.</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"></font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> = <font face=3D"Calibri">Does this</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> = <font face=3D"Calibri">design</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">present a less complicated approach = that</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">can</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"> be understood by a</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> wider audience? Can people more = readily comprehend a pie chart approach versus a = pyramidal</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">representation?</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> = <font face=3D"Calibri">Does the plate better reflect new findings = in</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">nutrition</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri"> (e.g.,</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">perhaps carbohydrates should not form the base of a = balanced diet)?</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri"> = Are circles better recei</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">ved than</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"> <font = face=3D"Calibri">triangle</font></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">s?</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span></p><div><span lang=3D"en-us"></span><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p dir=3D"LTR"><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">Thoughts?</font></span></p><p = dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = face=3D"Calibri">Regards,</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font face=3D"Calibri">Frank</font></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"></span><span= lang=3D"en-us"></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Calibri">--------------------------------------</font></span></p><= p dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><span lang=3D"en-us"></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Calibri">Frank M. Marchak, = Ph.D.</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = size=3D"2" face=3D"Calibri">Ve</font><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Calibri">ridical Research and Design = Corporation</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = size=3D"2" face=3D"Calibri">211 West Main Street - Lower = Level</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font = size=3D"2" face=3D"Calibri">PO Box 6503</font></span></p><p = dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Calibri">Bozeman, MT 59771-6503 USA</font></span></p><p = dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Calibri">406.522.9045 : tel</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span = lang=3D"en-us"><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Calibri">406.522.9048 : = fax</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span lang=3D"en-us"><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Calibri">406.581.0870 : cel</font></span></p><p dir=3D"LTR"><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><a href=3D"file://www.vradc.com"><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><span lang=3D"en-us"><u></u></span><u><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span></u><u><span lang=3D"en-us"><font color=3D"#0000FF" = size=3D"2" face=3D"Calibri">www.vradc.com</font></span></u><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span></a><span lang=3D"en-us"></span><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><span lang=3D"en-us"></span></p><div><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><span lang=3D"en-us"></span><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><span = lang=3D"en-us"></span><br class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div> </div> = ___________________________________________________________________<br><br= >Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: <br> <a = href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">infodesign-cafe= @list.informationdesign.org</a><br><br>To subscribe, unsubscribe or = change your options, visit:<br> <a = href=3D"http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe= ">http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe</a><b= r><br>For all Information Design matters:<br> <a = href=3D"http://InformationDesign.org">http://InformationDesign.org</a><br>= <br>Problems? Write to:<br> <a = href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">InfoDesig= [email protected]</a><br>___________________________= ________________________________________<br></blockquote></div><br></body>= </html>= --Apple-Mail-28-220335771-- --===============0811630656== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline ___________________________________________________________________ Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers: [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit: http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe For all Information Design matters: http://InformationDesign.org Problems? Write to: [email protected] ___________________________________________________________________ --===============0811630656==--