Nutrition Diet: Understanding When Was MyPyramid Replaced with MyPlate?

October 13, 2025 •

3 min read

On June 2, 2011, the USDA officially retired its complex MyPyramid food guidance system in favor of the simpler, more user-friendly MyPlate icon. This marked a major change in how the U.S. government visually communicates healthy eating, making a fundamental shift from a pyramid to a plate to represent daily meals.

Quick Summary

The USDA replaced the MyPyramid with the MyPlate icon in June 2011, moving from an abstract pyramid to a practical, recognizable plate graphic to illustrate proper meal proportions.

Key Points

MyPyramid replaced in 2011: MyPlate was officially launched by the USDA on June 2, 2011, to replace its predecessor.
Shift from abstract to practical: The change moved away from MyPyramid's complex vertical stripes toward MyPlate's simple, familiar visual of a place setting.
Improved accessibility: Unlike MyPyramid, which depended on its website for clarification, MyPlate's core message is immediately clear and accessible to everyone.
Focus on meal composition: MyPlate encourages consumers to think about portion sizes and the balance of food groups on their actual dinner plate.
Based on updated guidelines: The introduction of MyPlate reflected the most recent dietary recommendations available at the time.
Key message simplification: MyPlate's messages, like "Make half your plate fruits and vegetables," are easy to remember and apply daily.
Improved public understanding: The new icon addressed widespread confusion over MyPyramid and provided a clearer, more effective public health tool.

The Era of the Food Guide Pyramid (1992-2011)

For decades, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) relied on a pyramid model to illustrate healthy eating proportions. This visual evolved over time, most notably in 2005 with the introduction of MyPyramid. Departing from the horizontal bands of the 1992 version, MyPyramid featured six colorful vertical stripes of varying widths. Each stripe represented a different food group—grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk, and meat and beans. An abstract figure running up a staircase next to the pyramid was included to emphasize the importance of physical activity.

Challenges with MyPyramid

Despite its attempt to modernize, MyPyramid was widely criticized for being too complex and confusing for the average consumer. Critics, including prominent nutritionists, argued that the abstract nature of the colorful stripes made it difficult to interpret at a glance. The system also relied heavily on an accompanying website for personalized dietary recommendations, which limited accessibility for those without internet access. The food industry often co-opted the abstract graphic, further muddying the message. This led to a consensus among many nutrition experts that MyPyramid was a travesty—"hopelessly complicated" and "impossible to teach".

The Shift to MyPlate (2011)

Recognizing the shortcomings of its predecessor, the USDA announced the launch of MyPlate on June 2, 2011. This decision was part of a larger effort to update the federal government's nutrition advice in a way that was simple, recognizable, and actionable for all Americans. MyPlate was designed to serve as a visual cue, a simple reminder of how to fill your plate at mealtime. First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, introduced the new icon as a more effective tool for combating obesity and promoting healthier eating habits.

The Simple Message of MyPlate

Instead of abstract stripes, MyPlate depicts a place setting divided into four food groups, with a side circle for dairy. The graphic's core message is to fill your plate with the right proportions of each food type. This translates into actionable, simple tips that are easy to remember and implement.

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables: This emphasizes consuming nutrient-dense produce.
Vary your veggies: The guidance promotes eating a colorful variety of vegetables.
Focus on whole fruits: Encouraging whole fruits over juice offers more fiber.
Make half your grains whole grains: This promotes higher fiber intake from sources like oatmeal and brown rice.
Vary your protein routine: Reminds consumers that protein can come from diverse sources, not just meat.
Move to low-fat or fat-free dairy: Suggests switching to lower-fat options while maintaining calcium intake.

MyPyramid vs. MyPlate: A Comparison


Feature	MyPyramid	MyPlate
Introduction Year	2005	2011
Visual Representation	Abstract, colored vertical stripes with a person walking up stairs	A recognizable plate and cup divided into sections
Primary Focus	General, proportional guidelines linked to a website for details	Visualizing proper proportions on an actual dinner plate
Complexity	Highly abstract and confusing for many consumers	Intentionally simple and straightforward
Physical Activity	Explicitly included with the running figure	Not included in the icon itself, but emphasized on the website
Accessibility	Dependent on internet access for personalized guidance	Instantly understandable without internet resources

The Evolution of Dietary Guidance

The shift from MyPyramid to MyPlate represents more than just a change in graphics; it reflects a change in how public health messaging is delivered. MyPyramid, while a step forward from its 1992 predecessor by including physical activity, failed to connect with people's daily eating habits in a meaningful way. MyPlate, by contrast, grounded its advice in a familiar context—the dinner table—making it immediately relatable and practical. The new model simplified the core message: make your plate a visual representation of a balanced meal. The success of MyPlate lies in its directness and ease of use. It has become a staple in nutrition education, providing a quick, easy-to-understand guideline for making healthier choices. For more resources and personalized eating plans, visit the official MyPlate website at MyPlate.gov.

Conclusion

The question of when was MyPyramid replaced with MyPlate? has a clear answer: June 2, 2011. The transition marked a pivotal moment in public health messaging, shifting from a visually confusing and web-dependent pyramid model to a simple, effective plate graphic. This change prioritized clarity and practicality, providing a much-needed visual aid for Americans to better understand and implement healthier dietary habits. MyPlate has since become a cornerstone of modern nutrition education, helping millions to build more balanced and nutritious meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

MyPyramid was criticized for being too abstract and confusing due to its vertical colored stripes, which did not effectively communicate proportional recommendations at a glance. Additionally, it relied on a website for personalization, limiting access for some users.

MyPlate uses the familiar and relatable image of a dinner plate, directly illustrating recommended proportions for each food group in a single meal. This makes its message about balanced eating immediately understandable without further explanation.

The MyPlate icon itself does not visually represent physical activity, unlike MyPyramid, which showed a figure climbing stairs. However, physical activity is still a crucial part of the comprehensive health guidance promoted by the official MyPlate resources on its website.

MyPlate divides a plate setting into four sections for fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein, with a separate side circle for dairy.

For more information, resources, recipes, and tools, you can visit the official USDA website, MyPlate.gov.

Yes, MyPyramid replaced the original 1992 Food Guide Pyramid in 2005, and MyPlate replaced MyPyramid in 2011.

The use of a plate and glass setting was intentional, as it is a visual cue that a majority of Americans see every day. It serves as a simple, effective reminder for making healthier food choices at mealtime.