The Eatwell plate is the United Kingdom's version of the United States Department of Agriculture's food pyramid. Designed by Britain's Health Education Authority, the Eatwell plate, which was previously called the Balance of Good Health, is a dinner plate partitioned into different food types. Easier to understand than the U.S. food pyramid, the plate contains divisions similar to those on the food pyramid. Other organizations, such as the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center Nutrition Department, have devised their own versions of a balanced plate. The American Diabetes Association also has a "balanced plate" depiction.
Divisions
The British Eatwell plate includes the milk and dairy group, a meat and fish group, a bread and other cereals group, fruit and vegetables and a group containing sugars and fats. The largest two divisions, which take up more than half the plate, represent fruits and vegetables and bread, cereals and potatoes. The smallest group on the plate represents sugars and fats. The ADA plate contains carbs, protein and non-starchy vegetables. The Dana-Farber plate varies by meal.
Amounts
The Eatwell plate recommends that you eat around 33 percent of foods in the form of fruits and vegetables and another 33 percent in the form of cereals and grains. Around 15 percent of your dietary intake should come from dairy products and around 12 percent from protein sources. Around 8 percent of your dietary intake should come from fats and sugars. The ADA advises filling half your plate with vegetables, 25 percent with carbohydrates and 25 percent with protein, adding a piece of fruit and serving of dairy for a balanced meal.
Advantages
The main advantage of the balanced Eatwell plate over the U.S. food pyramid and other systems that attempt to show you how to eat well is its clarity. If you fill your plate with the foods pictured in the approximate proportions shown, you will consume a healthy diet. The ADA plate is clear on some nutrients but ignores others like fats and sweets.
Specific Recommendations
Within the different groups, the Eatwell plate and other balanced plates also suggest eating certain foods over others. Choosing whole grains over refined grains and low-fat choices over full-fat dairy, picking lean meats and limiting empty calories such as soda and sweets are all part of any balanced diet.
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