What is MyPlate?
In response to rising rates of childhood and adult obesity, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created MyPlate as a simple way for Americans to build a healthy plate at meal times. It replaces the Food Guide Pyramid familiar to many parents as the recommended guidelines for proper nutrition.
The MyPlate logo divides a dinner plate into four sections for vegetables, fruits, grains, and proteins with a fifth smaller plate to one side for dairy. The fruit and vegetable portions make up half of the plate to emphasize the recommendation to include fruits and vegetables as half of every meal.
Here are a few more key suggestions that go along with the MyPlate guide:
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
- Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
- Make at least half your grains whole grains.
- Go lean with protein.
- Compare sodium (salt) in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose foods with lower numbers.
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
- Find a balance between food and physical activity.
- Enjoy your food, but eat less.
- Avoid oversized portions