What Eating Behavior Does MyPlate Encourage Quizlet?

October 15, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a 2013 study, MyPlate guidelines influenced the food choices of over 40% of participants. In essence, what eating behavior does MyPlate encourage Quizlet content and resources highlight involves shifting dietary patterns toward balance, variety, and moderation by emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy.

Quick Summary

MyPlate promotes healthy eating by emphasizing balance, variety, and moderation, instructing individuals to fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables, and the other half with grains and proteins. It also highlights the importance of choosing low-fat dairy, varying protein sources, and limiting added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.

Key Points

Balance Your Plate: MyPlate encourages making half of your plate fruits and vegetables to ensure a nutrient-rich meal.
Choose Whole Grains: A core behavior promoted is to make at least half of your daily grain intake whole grains, such as oatmeal or brown rice.
Vary Your Protein: The plan advises varying protein sources to include lean meats, seafood, beans, and nuts for a wider array of nutrients.
Opt for Low-Fat Dairy: MyPlate recommends switching to low-fat or fat-free dairy to obtain calcium and vitamin D while reducing saturated fat intake.
Limit Unhealthy Extras: A key behavior is to reduce the consumption of added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium found in many beverages and processed foods.
Control Portion Sizes: MyPlate's visual representation naturally promotes better portion control by using the plate as a guide for balanced eating.
Involve the Family: Encouraging children to get involved in cooking and choosing foods is another behavior MyPlate supports to foster healthy habits.

Understanding the Core MyPlate Principles

MyPlate, the USDA's primary food guide, was designed to be a simple, actionable visual representation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Replacing the more complex Food Pyramid, MyPlate uses the familiar image of a dinner plate to illustrate proper proportions for a healthy meal. The core principles it encourages revolve around balance, variety, and moderation across five key food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy.

Making Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables

One of the most prominent behaviors MyPlate encourages is making half your plate fruits and vegetables. This is designed to increase the intake of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It emphasizes the importance of varying your choices within these groups to ensure a wide range of nutrients. For example, MyPlate recommends varying your vegetables by choosing from five subgroups: dark green, red and orange, beans and peas, starchy, and others. This diversity is crucial for a well-rounded diet.

Prioritizing Whole Grains

MyPlate also encourages making at least half of your grains whole grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel—the bran, germ, and endosperm—providing more dietary fiber, iron, and B vitamins compared to refined grains, which have had the bran and germ removed. Examples of whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal, and whole-wheat bread. This shift in behavior supports better digestive health and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Varying Your Protein Routine

A varied protein intake is another encouraged behavior. MyPlate suggests varying your protein routine by including sources beyond just meat and poultry, such as beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and seafood. This practice ensures a broader spectrum of nutrients, including essential amino acids, and can help to reduce the intake of saturated fats often found in higher-fat meats. For those following vegetarian or vegan diets, MyPlate recognizes plant-based proteins as suitable alternatives.

Opting for Low-Fat Dairy

MyPlate recommends moving to low-fat or fat-free dairy products. This includes milk, yogurt, and cheese, as well as fortified soy alternatives. This recommendation helps consumers meet their calcium and vitamin D needs while reducing their intake of saturated fat. While the visual includes a dairy cup to the side, the emphasis is on choosing healthier options within that group.

Comparison of MyPlate with Past Guidelines


Feature	MyPlate (Current)	MyPyramid (Previous)
Visual Aid	Simple plate and cup icon.	Vertical pyramid with colored bands.
Portion Emphasis	Clear visual representation of proportions (half plate fruits/veggies, half plate grains/proteins).	Proportionality indicated by varying widths of colored bands, which could be confusing.
Actionable Advice	Direct, simple tips like "Make half your plate fruits and vegetables".	Abstract concepts like variety, moderation, and activity with less clear visual guidance.
Food Groups	Five clear groups: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, Dairy.	Six groups with more specific naming (e.g., "Meat and Beans" and "Milk and Milk Products").

Practical Application of MyPlate Principles

To adopt these behaviors, MyPlate offers several practical strategies. For example, involving children in meal preparation can increase their interest in trying new foods. Simple changes, like adding shredded carrots to a sandwich or mixing raisins into oatmeal, are easy entry points. Additionally, MyPlate encourages mindful eating and taking control of your food choices, rather than adhering to a rigid set of rules. It provides a customizable framework that can be adapted to individual needs and cultural preferences.

MyPlate's success lies in its simplicity. By providing a clear, familiar visual, it helps consumers instantly recognize the balance required for a healthy meal. This user-friendly approach makes healthy eating less intimidating and more accessible for everyone. The shift from a pyramid to a plate also reflects a move towards focusing on meal composition rather than just food group quantities.

Conclusion

In summary, the eating behaviors MyPlate encourages, as outlined in various Quizlet sets, focus on creating a balanced, varied, and portion-controlled diet. Key behaviors include making half the plate fruits and vegetables, prioritizing whole grains, diversifying protein sources, and choosing low-fat dairy. By promoting these clear, actionable steps, MyPlate empowers individuals to make healthier food choices and build sustainable eating routines that can lead to better long-term health outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary message of MyPlate is to build a healthy, balanced plate by making half of it fruits and vegetables, and filling the other half with grains and protein, alongside a serving of dairy.

MyPlate encourages consuming more fruits and vegetables by explicitly stating that they should make up half of your plate at mealtime. It also advises varying the types of fruits and vegetables consumed.

MyPlate recommends making at least half of your grains whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and oatmeal, over refined grains.

The MyPlate recommendation for the protein group is to 'vary your protein routine' by including a variety of foods like beans, peas, nuts, seeds, seafood, and lean meats.

Yes, MyPlate encourages drinking and eating less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars, and advises reading nutrition labels to help achieve this.

MyPlate promotes healthy dairy intake by encouraging consumers to switch to low-fat or fat-free dairy milk or yogurt, or fortified soy alternatives, to get calcium-rich foods.

No, MyPlate is not a rigid rule book. It is designed as a simple and customizable framework that can be adapted to individual eating routines, budget, and cultural preferences.