Finding the Food to Fill MyPlate

The MyPlate image, released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) this past summer, is the current gold standard for eating within the United States. The plate is divided into 5 categories by food group, including dairy, fruits, grains, vegetables, and protein. Although there was controversy following the plate’s release, from questions as to why animal protein is seen as equal to plant-based protein or why grains weren’t defined as “whole” versus “refined,” the overall message of the plate is clearly to encourage greater consumption of fruits and vegetables.

However, there is another pressing issue that was raised in response to this new standard: do we have enough food to make it a reality? In the United States, we produce 4 highly subsidized crops: corn, soy, wheat, and cotton. Unfortunately, I’m not referring to corn on the cob. These four crops are not made for human consumption, but instead for animal feed and processed foods. Fruits and vegetables on the other hand, are considered “specialty crops” and therefore are not subsidized by the U.S. government.

So, what do you suppose would happen if every American man, woman, and child adopted the MyPlate style of eating? You guessed it – experts cite that we won’t have the fruits and vegetables to feed everyone. While the messaging for a healthy diet is provided, the access is still a challenge.

This isn’t a new issue, in fact, it was the first comment made by many professionals in the field of nutrition upon the release of the MyPlate icon. But I bring this up now because of the unprecedented circumstances that we find ourselves in. For the first time, a Super Committee has been formed to determine how we can cut substantial funding from the national budget. A large portion of this is being targeted at the Farm Bill, the legislation that controls crop subsidies.
 

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently spoke on this very issue:
"Over the past 60 years, yields per acre of major crops -- corn, soy, wheat, and cotton -- have doubled, tripled, and in some cases even quadrupled. At the same time, livestock production and specialty crop production have become far more efficient. […] Congress must find ways to support research that is focused on crop production and protection, on livestock production and protection.”

While specialty crops may have become more efficient, they certainly have not “doubled, tripled or quadrupled” the way that subsidized crops have, mainly because there is no incentive to grow them. While Secretary Vilsack is correct, funding for research is needed, there must also be consideration for reducing subsidies for the foods we are looking to reduce, and increasing them for the foods we are looking to increase…namely whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Consider this – last year, the U.S. spent $5.97 billion on subsidies (for corn, soy, wheat and cotton, etc.) whereas the American Heart Association spent $724 million (’07-’08 figure) to promote heart health and prevention. If we spent as much money on preventing diseases of lifestyle caused by a highly processed diet, we might be headed in the right direction.