USDA's New MyPlate

The United States Department of Agriculture has introduced a new nutrition icon. Rather than the traditional food pyramid, they have simplified by creating a “plate”. The key consumer messages associated with MyPlate include balancing calories, foods to increase, and foods to reduce.

Balancing Calories
*Enjoy your food, but eat less
*Avoid oversized portions

Foods to Increase
*Make half your plate fruit and vegetables
*Make at least half your grains whole grains
*Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk

Foods to Reduce
*Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals- and choose the meals with lower numbers
*Drink water instead of sugary drinks