USDA MyPlate

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• QWhat are the USDA dinner plate guidelines?

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  A Marisa Moore , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  MyPlate replaced the Food Guide Pyramid in 2011 as the new food guidance tool from the US government. It’s a simple and easy guide that helps you visualize what you should eat and how much. The plate (as shown below) encourages Americans to fill half the plate with fruits and vegetables, and split the other side with whole grains and lean protein. It also recommends 3 servings of low fat dairy a day. The final plate can look very different from house to house and meal to meal. 
  
  Dinner may look like this:

  • ½ cup kale salad
  • 3-4 ounces of grilled fish
  • ½ c whole grain pasta or brown rice
  • Unsweetened tea
  • 1 cup berries for dessert

  Create your own meals and get all of the details on MyPlate at www.myplate.gov. 

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• QWhy did the USDA change the food guidelines from the pyramid to the plate?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Nutritionists maintain that the food pyramid was a misrepresentation of healthy eating, as it failed to differentiate nutrient-dense foods, like whole grains and fish, from empty-calorie foods like refined cereals and pasta. The most notable changes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made emphasize that at least half of your grains should be whole grains (oatmeal, whole cornmeal, brown rice, etc.), and that half of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables. The new guidelines stress adding more "color" to your dish.
  
  This content originally appeared on doctoroz.com
• QWhat are the USDA MyPlate nutrition recommendations?

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  A Laura Russell , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered

  The simplest way to think about nutrition is that the most of us need to eat more vegetables and less meat and starches. We need a balance, so MyPlate visually demonstrates that by sectioning the plate into food groups -- fruit, vegetables, dairy, grains, protein. If you make a conscious effort to balance your plate and include reasonable portions of all food groups, you are on your way to following a healthy diet. 

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• QWhat are the goals of the USDA MyPlate nutrition recommendations?

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  A Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  

  MyPlate is the most recent tool released by the USDA that serves as an icon to remind consumers to eat healthfully. It depicts the five food groups using a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting. MyPlate is the focal point for a larger, web-based communication and education initiative at ChooseMyPlate.gov that provides information, tips and tools to help you build a healthier diet based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. Also available at ChooseMyPlate.gov is an interactive food guidance system that is based on the USDA Food Patterns, which will provide you with a personalized food plan based on the latest nutrition and health recommendations.
  
  The goals of MyPlate are to visually help Americans consume a nutrient-rich, calorie appropriate, balanced diet that includes a variety of foods in moderation, and that will better manage their health and weight.

  

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• QWhat are the food sections of the USDA MyPlate?

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  A Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  

  As you can see from the figure, MyPlate is a dinner plate split into multiple sections, each representing each of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. While oils are an important part of a healthy diet, they are not depicted on the plate as they are not considered a food group.
  
  At a blink of an eye, you will now see proportionality in regards to how these food groups should dominate your diet. Half of your plate should be devoted to waist- and heart-friendly vegetables and fruit with a smaller portion for grains, preferably whole grains and lean protein foods such as fish, skinless poultry, lean meats, dried beans and peas. The circle shape next to the plate is a visual reminder to make sure that fat-free and low-fat dairy foods such as milk should not be forgotten at mealtimes. 

  

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• QWhere are meat and beans on the USDA MyPlate?

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  A Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  

  MyPlate combines meats and beans in the Protein Foods Group. 
  
  According to the USDA, 1 ounce of meat, poultry or fish, ¼ cup cooked beans, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, or ½ ounce of nuts or seeds can be considered as 1 ounce equivalent from the Protein Foods Group.

  

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• QDo I need to follow the USDA MyPlate exactly to eat healthy?

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  A Judy Caplan , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  MyPlate are guidelines to a healthy diet. These are suggestions to make you more aware so that over the course of a day, a week, a month, and the year you will be feeding your body the nutrients you need to promote health. If you increase your fruit and vegetable consumption, eat more whole grains, and make the protein you eat lean, you will be on your way to better health.

• QHow can I find out more information about the USDA MyPlate recommendations?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  

  MyPlate is the most recent tool released by the USDA that serves as an icon to remind consumers to eat healthfully. It depicts the five food groups using a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting. MyPlate is the focal point for a larger, web-based communication and education initiative at ChooseMyPlate.gov that provides information, tips and tools to help you build a healthier diet based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 
  
  Also available at ChooseMyPlate.gov is an interactive food guidance system that is based on the USDA Food Patterns, which will provide you with a personalized food plan based on the latest nutrition and health recommendations. Consuming a calorie appropriate, balanced diet that includes a variety of foods in moderation will also allow you to meet the DRIs for your nutrient needs and better manage your health and weight.
  
  At ChooseMyPlate.gov, you will not only find more information regarding the MyPlate recommendations, but also recipes, tips, and other supportive materials to help you maintain a healthy diet.

  

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• QHow can I eat healthy by using the MyPlate recommendations?

  4 Answers

  A

  

  A Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  

  MyPlate is the most recent tool released by the USDA that serves as an icon to remind consumers to eat healthfully. It depicts the five food groups using a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting. MyPlate is the focal point for a larger, web-based communication and education initiative at ChooseMyPlate.gov that provides information, tips and tools to help you build a healthier diet based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010.
  
  As you can see from the figure, MyPlate is a dinner plate split into multiple sections, each representing each of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. While oils are an important part of a healthy diet, they are not depicted on the plate as they are not considered a food group. At a blink of an eye, you will now see proportionality in regards to how these food groups should dominate your diet. Half of your plate should be devoted to waist- and heart-friendly vegetables and fruit with a smaller portion for grains, preferably whole grains and lean protein foods such as fish, skinless poultry, lean meats, dried beans and peas. The circle shape next to the plate is a visual reminder to make sure that fat-free and low-fat dairy foods such as milk should not be forgotten at mealtimes.
  
  By using the MyPlate icon your meals, and thus, your diet, will be healthy and well-balanced. For more on the specific number of servings from each food group that you should be consuming daily, please visit: www.ChooseMyPlate.gov.

  

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• QWhere are sugars, fats and oils on the USDA MyPlate?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  

  MyPlate is the most recent tool released by the USDA that serves as an icon to remind consumers to eat healthfully. It depicts the five food groups using a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting.
  
  As you can see from the figure, MyPlate is a dinner plate split into multiple sections, each representing each of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. While oils are an important part of a healthy diet, they are not depicted on the plate as they are not considered a food group.
  
  Oils such as canola, olive, soybean, and sunflower provide important fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids that you need daily, but with less of the heart unhealthy saturated fat found in solid fats such as butter. Use oils modestly within the contexts of a healthy diet.
   

  

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