Rainbow-Based Food Selection System for Pantry Workers and Volunteers using MyPlate Guidelines
Let's dive into the MyPlate-Guided Rainbow of Colors Choice Food Pantry System, a game-changer for Extension educators, food pantry staff, and volunteers across the USA. Here's the skinny on this awesome initiative!
What's the Rainbow all about?
So, remember MyPlate, the nutritional guide that looks like a plate? Well, the pet project of the Ohio State University Extension and the Butler County Ohio FEED Alliance is based on that. The mythical Rainbow System isn't some magical sorcery—it's all about color-coding the food groups in line with MyPlate to foster healthy eating patterns amongst folks struggling with food insecurity.
But why focus on colors, you ask? Because colorful fruits and vegetables are nutritional powerhouses! This system encourages pantry clients to embrace the motto "Eat the Rainbow" by selecting a diverse array of colorful produce, boasting a bounty of nutrients and health benefits.
Why does MyPlate matter?
Obesity and chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, are on the rise like never before in Ohio and the US—they're costing everybody a pretty penny[1]. And guess what? Lifestyle factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity are major contributors to these diseases. Nutrition education and teaching people to make healthier food choices can contribute to long, productive lives.
Interestingly, food insecurity is connected to diabetes and other diet-related chronic diseases[2]. When people don't have enough food, they often use unhealthy coping strategies. These may involve eating cheap, processed foods high in fat, salt, and carbs instead of fruits and veggies, sticking to a smaller variety of foods, wasting food to extend its life, or binging when there's plenty available.
But the Rainbow System is here to help clients make a splash in the world of healthy eating! By offering a variety of food groups, it helps folks create balanced meals and snacks, educating them on the composition of a healthy plate[3].
Deciding the Choices
The boss of the food pantry determines the number of choices per food group based on current inventory and family size[3].
Arranging the Pantry
Color, my dear friends! The pantry should be color-coordinated and stacked according to the food groups, making it super easy for clients to understand the different options and how their choices fit into MyPlate[3].
Clients' Choice!
Shopping assistants guide clients through the process, helping them choose items within each food group[3]. Family size will determine the number of choices per color-coded food group. Shopping assistants can also dispense nutrition tips if they're feeling chatty!
Setting Restrictions
To ensure that everyone has access to a variety of foods, each pantry should determine limitations on certain items. For example, some pantries allow no more than two of any particular item[3].
Promoting Healthy Choices
Pantries can help drive demand for healthy foods by offering 'free choice' options for fresh produce and promoting hard-to-sell items such as whole grains. Other tactics include placing eye-catching displays or placing healthier options at eye level[3].
Training Volunteers
Want to know how to categorize food items into the food groups? No worries! Just head over to choosemyplate.gov for a quick tutorial[3]. The rainbow-colored groups are just too easy to remember!
With the additional groups for Combination and Miscellaneous foods, the system ensures that the five main food groups stick to healthier choices[3]. The Combination group is color-coded brown and consists of items that contain more than one food group, such as soups and stews. The Miscellaneous group is yellow and includes highly processed foods like chips, candies, and snack bars.
Sources:
[1] Seligman, H.K., Bindman, A.B., Vittinghoff, E., Kanaya, A.M., & Kushel, M.B. (2007)
[2] Seligman, H.K., & Schillinger, D. (2010)
[3] Seligman, H.K., Jacobs, E.A., López, A., Tschann, J., & Fernandez, A. (2012)
[4] Remley, D.T., Kaiser, M., and Osso, T. (2013)
[4] Remley, D.T., Zubieta, A.C., Lambea, M.C., Melgar-Quinonez, H., Taylor, C. (2010)
[4] Remley, D.T., Gallagher, T., McDowell, J., Kershaw, M., Lambea, M. C., and Melgar-Quinonez, H. (2006)
[4] U.S. Department of Agriculture (January 2016)
Enrichment Data: The MyPlate-Guided Rainbow of Colors Choice Food Pantry System encourages education on balanced diets through interactive activities, helping clients learn to create healthier, colorful plates. The system emphasizes "eating the rainbow" to maximize nutrient intake and reduce food waste by focusing on nutrition security, not just food security.
- The MyPlate-Guided Rainbow of Colors Choice Food Pantry System originates from MyPlate, a nutritional guide that resembles a plate, created by the Ohio State University Extension and the Butler County Ohio FEED Alliance.
- The Rainbow System focusing on color-coding food groups aligns with MyPlate to promote healthy eating habits among individuals facing food insecurity, urging them to adopt the motto, "Eat the Rainbow."
- By emphasizing the selection of diverse colorful produce, the system encourages nutrient-rich choices that contribute to overall health and wellness.
- Embracing the Rainbow System offers clients assistance in creating balanced meals and snacks, aiding in their understanding of the composition of a healthy plate.
- The pet project of the Ohio State University Extension and the Butler County Ohio FEED Alliance also emphasizes lifelong learning, providing resources on nutrition and healthy cooking through online education platforms like choosemyplate.gov.
- Educational components of the Rainbow System include interactive activities that teach clients about balanced diets and healthy eating patterns, focusing on the importance of a diverse diet for optimal nutrition.
- The system also promotes self-development by encouraging clients to explore global cuisines and embrace healthy-cooking practices, further enhancing their lifestyle and food-and-drink choices.
