FIRST KITCHEN BLOGS

Government officials (US Department of Agriculture) recently announced that they will be ditching the old Food Guide Pyramid and going with a “new” simpler design called

My Plate. www.choosemyplate.gov A simple circle with half filled with fruits and vegetables and rest made up of grains and proteins foods like chicken or nuts. 

We think its good advice because we at First Kitchen Cooks have been recommending this since we introduced it four years ago as a healthy but simple way to eat. We call it the Plate Model.

To review what we include in our First Kitchen DVD,

When preparing any meal, no matter how simple, think about including these 3 primary food items:

A protein food ─ like grilled chicken- you can also have beef, fish, cheese, eggs, or beans.

A carbohydrate food ─ like corn, or rice, pasta, whole grain bread, or potatoes.

And a vegetable like green salad, green beans, broccoli, tomatoes… or a fruit such as apples, grapes, bananas, and berries.

By following this simple plate model you will have mastered the concept of balanced eating.

p.s. Keep in mind that adding a beverage like a glass of milk could be counted as part of your protein food and of course a good source of calcium.  When you think of your meal it does not always have to fit nicely on the plate.  It could be a food that combines all three groups in one like pizza,  stew, an entrée salad. For example, a chicken quesadillas made with shredded chicken, roasted red pepper, green onions and shredded cheese and some chopped tomato and shredded lettuce along side would fit nicely into this model.  Remember- if you keep this plate model in mind you can easily check   “”How healthy is my meal?”