Introduction to MyPlate
MyPlate serves as the current educational icon for promoting the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It presents a familiar image—a place setting—to visually remind people to fill their plates with balanced proportions of different food groups. This simple visual approach was created to be more easily understood and applied than its predecessor, MyPyramid. MyPlate breaks down a meal into five key food groups: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy. By promoting variety, moderation, and balanced portion sizes, MyPlate provides a straightforward roadmap for developing healthier eating patterns.
What's on MyPlate Activity: A Closer Look
A What's on MyPlate activity? is a method of engaging with the MyPlate principles to learn and practice healthy eating habits. These activities can take many forms, from simple educational handouts for kids to personalized online plans for adults. The goal is to translate the static visual of the MyPlate icon into a dynamic, hands-on learning experience that encourages better food choices at mealtime and beyond.
Engaging with the Five Food Groups
Central to any MyPlate activity is interacting with the five food groups. Engaging with each group helps solidify understanding and provides practical examples for real-life meal planning.
- Fruits: Focus on whole fruits to get vital nutrients like potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. Activities might involve identifying different types of fruits, learning serving sizes (e.g., 1 small apple is about 1 cup), and creating fruit-based snacks.
- Vegetables: This group, which makes up the largest portion of the plate, includes a wide variety of colorful options. MyPlate subcategorizes vegetables into dark-green, red and orange, starchy, beans and peas, and other vegetables. An activity could be a “rainbow scavenger hunt” to find vegetables of different colors.
- Grains: Emphasizes making half your grains whole grains. Activities could teach the difference between whole-grain and refined-grain products through visual examples or taste tests.
- Protein Foods: The protein group includes not only meat and poultry but also seafood, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds. A fun activity is a “protein routine” to vary protein sources, like trying beans instead of meat in a taco dish.
- Dairy: This group, shown as a smaller circle next to the plate, includes milk, yogurt, and cheese, focusing on low-fat or fat-free versions. Activities can highlight calcium-rich foods and the importance of dairy or fortified alternatives.
Interactive MyPlate Tools and Resources
The official MyPlate website provides a wealth of interactive tools and downloadable resources to facilitate the learning process. These resources make the activity accessible and adaptable for different audiences, from families to classrooms.
- MyPlate Plan: This personalized tool asks for age, sex, height, weight, and activity level to generate a customized eating plan with specific food recommendations.
- Start Simple with MyPlate App: This mobile app lets users set daily goals and track their progress in real-time, earning badges for completing goals. It's a great tool for building healthy habits gradually.
- Shop Simple with MyPlate: Offers budget-friendly shopping tips and finds cost-saving suggestions for local grocery stores.
- MyPlate Kitchen: Provides a library of healthy, budget-friendly recipes with detailed nutrition analysis.
MyPlate vs. MyPyramid: A Shift in Nutritional Guidance
The introduction of MyPlate marked a significant change from the previous MyPyramid guidance. Understanding this evolution helps highlight the principles emphasized by the MyPlate activity.
| Feature | MyPlate | MyPyramid |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Representation | A simple, familiar plate with sections for different food groups. | A tiered, multi-colored pyramid, which was sometimes seen as complex. |
| Proportion Emphasis | A visual guide showing portions on a plate, with half dedicated to fruits and vegetables. | Food groups were placed on different tiers, with the widest tier at the base (grains) implying a focus on that group. |
| Core Message | Focuses on a simple visual guide for building a balanced meal one plate at a time. | Emphasized proportion, moderation, and physical activity but was less visually intuitive for meal planning. |
| Dairy Inclusion | Featured as a separate, smaller circle next to the plate, indicating an accompanying serving. | Included in the pyramid's tiers, which could be confusing regarding its proportion relative to other foods. |
| Activity Integration | Often paired with interactive tools and activities for dynamic learning. | Information was presented more statically, with less emphasis on integrated, hands-on activities. |
Making it Fun: Hands-On Activities for All Ages
Engaging with MyPlate doesn't have to be limited to digital tools. Many fun, hands-on activities are available to help reinforce healthy eating principles.
For Younger Children
- MyPlate Coloring and Cut-and-Paste: Downloadable templates allow children to color in the MyPlate sections and then cut and paste pictures of different foods into the correct categories.
- Food Art Creation: Encourage kids to make colorful food art by arranging different fruits and vegetables on their plates to mimic a MyPlate meal.
For Families
- 'Food Critic' Activity: Let children and adults choose a new, unfamiliar food from a MyPlate group at the grocery store. Everyone tastes it and rates its flavor and texture.
- 'Kid's Restaurant' Night: Have kids take on the role of chefs, using a template to design a menu that includes options from all the MyPlate food groups.
For Classrooms and Communities
- Interactive Lessons: Use official USDA lesson plans and materials to create structured learning sessions.
- School Gardens: Growing a garden helps children learn where their food comes from and encourages them to try new vegetables.
Conclusion
The What's on MyPlate activity? is more than just a lesson; it's a practical, engaging approach to building lifelong healthy eating habits. By moving beyond a static image, MyPlate activities transform nutritional guidelines into a dynamic learning process that is easy to understand for people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether it's through interactive apps, hands-on classroom projects, or family mealtime games, these activities empower individuals to make mindful food choices and create balanced, nutritious meals every day. For more information and resources, visit the official USDA MyPlate website: MyPlate.gov.
