When the First Lady, Michelle Obama, unveiled the new logo of the government guidelines for healthy eating in a news conference last week, the design, called “MyPlate,” was widely praised for its simplicity and intuitiveness.

As it has been widely reported, the new graphic is meant to replace the old “Food Pyramid,” including its latest version, the so-called “MyPyramid.” In a radical departure from the traditional triangle, this one resembles a dinner plate split into four sections for vegetables, fruit, grains and protein. A smaller circle for dairy products is placed next to it.

Mrs. Obama emphasized in her introduction speech that she wanted to see “a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods we’re eating.” She went on to say that because “we’re all bombarded with so many dietary messages, it’s hard to find time to sort through all this information, but we do have time to take a look at our kid’s plates. If the plate looks like the symbol, with lots of fruits and vegetables, then we’re good, it’s as simple as that.”

Indeed, the symbol looks quite a bit like one of the trays used in school cafeterias with divided segments for different food items. Several sample sets were also put together for the press to show how healthy meals should look like: Green beans, broccoli, slices of mandarin orange, whole-wheat bread, some sort of white meat and a glass of milk on the side.

Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition at New York University, was quick to point out that “Americans aren’t used to eating this way.” No doubt about that. A lot of people will ask, where’s the beef? Piling half your dinner plate with fruit and vegetables and another quarter with whole grains is not what most families have done in the past and may not find palatable any time soon.

Still, the driving principle of keeping the message as simple and as user-friendly as possible is the right move. Ceaselessly bombarding the public with often contradictory health news has not led to better education but to more confusion and loss of interest.

We do have to accept that fact that the public is still largely ignorant about making healthy food choices. Nutrition experts may feel uncomfortable with that thought, however, considering the ever-growing obesity epidemic, it is clear that the messages of the past have not yet gotten through. Encouraging basic questions like “What is a vegetable?” and answering them with sincerity should not be dismissed as trivial or even demeaning. After all, we once had a president who earnestly believed that tomato ketchup belonged to that food group.

As a health counselor, I have learned this lesson many times over: The simpler dietary guidelines are explained to people, the more likely they will be followed and continue to be followed over time.

Strengths and weaknesses

The MyPlate guidelines are the strongest where the recommendations and warnings are presented in the plainest language. For instance: “Enjoy your food, but eat less.” Or, “Avoid oversized portions.” (Remember that next time you eat out.) Or, “Drink water instead of sugary drinks.”

The latter cannot be stressed enough. It is common knowledge that sodas contribute significantly to our national health malaise, especially among children. “If Americans would heed that advice alone,” says Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, “the obesity and diabetes epidemics would begin to abate overnight.”

Unfortunately, this desirable level of clarity is not always kept up throughout the guidelines. For example, the section called “Protein” is quite confusing. As Professor Nestle has pointed out, protein is not a food, it’s a nutrient, like carbohydrate or fat. Most Americans think of meat when they look for protein sources. But you can get protein from other animal foods as well, like fish and poultry and also from plant products like beans.

The idea that a healthy meal should include milk or yogurt (preferably low-fat) is questionable as well. Most consumers believe that dairy products are important sources for calcium, which is true – but they are not the only ones. Canned salmon or sardines with bones, broccoli, kidney beans, almond nuts and tofu are all calcium providers.

In the “Fruits” section, no distinction is being made between whole fruits and fruit juices or smoothies. “This ignores the fact that the glycemic load – an indication of how quickly a food is converted to blood sugar – is far higher in fruit juices than in fruits,” says Dr. Weil. It would be better to emphasize the superior benefits of whole fruits, also because the fiber slows down digestion, which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevents overindulgence. For similar reasons, whole grains are preferable to refined versions.

Regrettably, the guidelines encourage reducing sodium intake only from some notoriously salty items, like canned soups and frozen meals, but they don’t name snacks and processed foods. At times, it seems that the government is trying to make its point without directly wanting to criticize the food industry for its manufacturing processes.

All in all, I agree with Professor Nestle’s assessment that the new guidelines are leaning in the right direction, but still keep pulling punches. That said, considering how far we have come over the years, some real progress has been made here. Let’s hope we can keep up the momentum.

Timi Gustafson R.D. is a clinical dietitian and author of the book, “The Healthy Diner – How to Eat Right and Still Have Fun”®, available in bookstores, at timigustafson.com and at Amazon.com. You can also follow Timi on Twitter at twitter.com/TimiGustafsonRD.