"MyPlate" Icon Aimed at Reducing Waistlines
The federal government's new food icon, MyPlate, was designed as a guide to help Americans make healthful food choices.
Research from the International Food Information Council Foundation shows that consumers want to know what to eat rather than what not to eat, and they want more healthful menu items. According to the Association's 2010 Household Survey, nearly three-quarters of adults say they try to eat healthier when dining out than they did two years ago. Restaurant operators confirm that trend, with a majority saying their customers order more healthful menu items than they did two years ago. The National Restaurant Association has voiced support of the icon, saying it gives consumers a clearer idea of how to think of their everyday meal options.
According to the Association's 2011 "What's Hot" chef survey, the top five trends highlighted had to do with nutritionally balanced children's dishes. Two-thirds of U.S. quick-serve operators offer more healthful choices for children than they did two years ago. In the full-service segment, about half of family-dining operators in the United States report offering more healthful choices for children than they did two years ago.
| 
