Finding Balance

If you were in school in the United States before 2005, you were likely taught about the food pyramid. Today, the Department of Agriculture uses a plate instead of a pyramid to show how much of each food group you should consume each day. While the visual of the plate is intended to make proportions clearer, you may still have a lot of questions about what specific foods should go in each group. What counts as a grain? Are all proteins made equal? Are potatoes considered vegetables? What if I have special dietary needs or restrictions?

Illustration by Alexandra Folino for Issue No. 6: Eating Good
Words by Maria Teresa Alzuru