Food Balance Wheel

The Food Balance Wheel

The Food Balance Wheel presents a different visual interpretation of balanced eating guidelines, drawing inspiration from the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Originally conceived in Portugal in 1977, the wheel was later refined and popularized by author Art Dragon. Its primary distinction lies in its departure from a quantitative format, such as numbers or portions, to an easily comprehensible visual representation. Although the Food Guide Pyramid was replaced by MyPlate in 2011, the Food Balance Wheel remains a notable tool in the realm of nutritional education.

History

The origins of the Food Balance Wheel can be traced back to 1977 in Portugal. It emerged as an innovative approach to facilitate better public comprehension of balanced diets, acknowledging that the pyramid's hierarchical structure may not resonate with everyone. The wheel's broader acceptance was further championed by Art Dragon, who believed in the power of visual learning and sought to bring the concept to a wider audience.

Comparison with the Food Guide Pyramid

• Structure: While the Food Guide Pyramid uses a hierarchical model, with the base representing foods to be consumed in larger quantities and the top signifying those to be eaten sparingly, the Food Balance Wheel depicts these recommendations in a circular format.
• Visualization: The wheel employs a visual approach, using segments of varying sizes to represent different food groups and their recommended consumption ratios.
• Accessibility: The Food Balance Wheel aims to simplify nutritional recommendations for individuals who may find a number-based or tiered system less intuitive.

Transition to MyPlate

In 2011, the USDA introduced MyPlate, a plate-shaped diagram divided into different food group portions, as a successor to the Food Guide Pyramid. This new guide emphasized portion control and the inclusion of all vital food groups in every meal. While the Food Balance Wheel and MyPlate share similarities in their visual representation of balanced eating, they differ in their origins, development, and specifics of their recommendations.

Significance

The Food Balance Wheel underscores the importance of adapting nutritional guidelines to cater to diverse learning and comprehension styles. By offering an alternative to traditional models, it supports the broader objective of fostering informed dietary choices and promoting healthier eating habits.

See Also

• Food guide pyramid
• MyPlate
• Dietary guidelines
• Diet and cancer
• Diet and heart disease
• Diet (multiple sclerosis)
• Health food
• Health promotion
• Nutrigenomics
• Nutritional genomics
• Standard American Diet
• Raw foodism
• CRON-diet
• Nutritional gatekeeper