My Plate
Years ago, American’s looked at an abstract pyramid, called the food pyramid, for nutrition guidance. The food pyramid was a triangular diagram representing the optimal number of servings to be eaten each day from each of the basic food groups. This visual was replaced by MyPlate in 2011.
MyPlate is the current nutrition guide published by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, a food circle depicting a place setting with a plate and glass divided into five food groups.
MyPlate is a reminder to find your healthy eating style and build it throughout your lifetime. Everything you eat and drink matters. The right mix can help you be healthier now and in the future. This means:
- Focus on variety, amount, and nutrition.
- Choose foods and beverages with less saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
- Start with small changes to build healthier eating styles.
- Support healthy eating for everyone.
Eating healthy is shaped by several factors, including our stage of life, situations, preferences, access to food, culture, traditions, and the personal decisions we make over time. MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you create a healthier eating style that meets your individual needs and improves your health. Check out https://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlatePlan for a personalized MyPlate Plan based on your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level.