All About MyPlate!

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June 9, 2011

Most likely, you’ve had a chance to see and learn about the Food Pyramid, a symbol used by the U.S. government to try and help teach Americans about what to eat. Last week, the government released a new, updated symbol to replace the pyramid: A plate-icon named MyPlate!  

While the pyramid symbol had been used for almost twenty years, many people found it confusing. The idea behind MyPlate was to make a symbol that was simple, so people could understand that eating healthfully doesn’t have to be complicated!

MyPlate portrays clearly what a dinner plate should look like: Half of the plate is made up of fruits and vegetables (with slightly more veggies than fruits) and the other half of the plate is made up of grains and protein (with slightly more grains than protein). Off to the side, looking like a glass of milk or cup of yogurt, is a serving of dairy. – The symbol aims to make it easy for anybody to look at their plate and think about whether or not they’re eating the right amounts of each food group.

With the introduction of MyPlate, the government has also launched a website to go with it: ChooseMyPlate.gov. The website offers additional information about food groups, portion sizes, and other health considerations like exercise. – Have a grown-up help you check it out today, and see what new things you can learn!