The dinner plate-based guide from the U.S. Department of Agriculture released last week, which replaces the food pyramid that’s been in place for two decades, is divided into four parts. Fruits and vegetables take up half the space; grains and proteins make up the other half.
“The overall message is very simple, and I applaud the effort to make people understand that fruits and vegetables should be half your meal,” said Frank Muir, the president and chief executive of the Idaho Potato Commission. “I’d also encourage people to make sure they’re using the right-sized plate.”
But he’s less thrilled with a new USDA school nutrition proposal, which calls for fewer potatoes to be served with school breakfasts and lunches. Its aim is to cut down on how many french fries kids eat -- and to replace them with green vegetables.
Members of Congress have taken up the food fight, too. Last month, 40 Republicans and Democrats in Congress questioned the USDA’s proposal to cut back on potatoes and other starchy vegetables in school meals.
The guidelines in particular call for increases in the amounts of green and orange vegetables and legumes that kids eat at school. But many lawmakers, particularly Republicans, have raised concerns that the guidelines will raise the prices of school lunches.
They also question whether simply cutting out potatoes will prod kids into eating more orange and green vegetables.