New MyPlate icon

As you may or may not know, the USDA Mypyramid graphic that we have been familiar with for the last several years has recently been updated to the new USDA MyPlate graphic.

This graphic looks like this:



There are still 5 food groups, but some have changed names. Meat and beans is now protein and milk is now dairy. The oil group (yellow strip on Mypyramid) has been taken off. The messages that accompany the food groups are still the same. It is still recommended to get half of your grains from whole grains, vary your veggies, focus on fruits, get your calcium-rich foods, and go lean with protein.

There are seven key consumer messages from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines that are used with the MyPlate graphic.

They are:

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

Foods to Increase
● Make half your plate fruits 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 foods with lower numbers.
● Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

The USDA has developed a new website for the MyPlate graphic. The website allows you to develop a personalized plan, find sample menus, recipes, and find out other information about the new MyPlate graphic.

More information will be forthcoming about the USDA MyPlate icon.