Choose My Plate Resources

What is MyPlate?

In June 2011, MyPlate replaced the MyPyramid image as the U.S. government's primary food group symbol. It is an easy-to-understand visual cue to help consumers adopt healthy eating habits consistent with dietary guidelines for Americans. 

MyPlate provides practical information to individuals, health professionals, nutrition educators, and the food industry to help consumers build healthier diets with resources and tools for dietary assessment, nutrition education, and other user-friendly nutrition information. The online resources and tools can empower people to make healthier food choices for themselves, their families, and their children.

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on following a healthy eating pattern across the lifespan—encouraging Americans to consume a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood, and to consume less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and refined grains. Americans of all ages are encouraged to include regular physical activity into their lives. 

Below are some of the tips that help consumers translate the Dietary Guidelines into their everyday lives:
 Enjoy food from all food groups.
 Focus on nutrient density and recommended portion sizes.
 Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
 Include fat-free or low-fat (1%) dairy products and/or soy products.
 Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals – and choose the foods with lower numbers.
 Try to reduce the amount of added sugars in your diet. 
 Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

The USDA's MyPlate site also offers a variety of interactive tools that make it easy for individuals to get recommendations for personalized healthy eating patterns that suit their lifestyles, including MyPlate,MyWins, SuperTracker, and What's Cooking.   

MyPlate, MyWins
SuperTracker
What's Cooking

Additional Resources
2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for America 
Eat Right Nutrition Tips

USDA Food and Nutrition Services Resources
Resources for children of pre-school age 
Resources for children over 5

Spanish Materials for MyPlate