Which of the following is not a food category on MyPlate?

January 5, 2026 •

4 min read

In 2011, the USDA introduced MyPlate to replace the outdated food pyramid, simplifying healthy eating recommendations for Americans. However, when asking, "Which of the following is not a food category on MyPlate?" many are surprised to learn that Fats and Oils is the category intentionally excluded from the main icon.

Quick Summary

This article clarifies which food groups are featured on the MyPlate icon and identifies the category that is deliberately not included. It explains why Fats and Oils were removed as a dedicated section to promote a focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods.

Key Points

Fats and Oils are Not a MyPlate Category: The category of 'Fats, Oils, and Sweets' is not included in the MyPlate visual icon, a key distinction from the older Food Pyramid.
MyPlate Focuses on Five Food Groups: The official MyPlate model promotes Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy as the five core categories for a balanced diet.
Emphasizes Whole Foods: MyPlate shifts focus from calorie-counting to intuitive portioning, encouraging filling half the plate with fruits and vegetables.
Replaced the Food Pyramid: MyPlate was introduced by the USDA in 2011 to replace the more complex and often misunderstood Food Pyramid.
Easy to Visualize: The plate-and-cup graphic makes it simple for users to visualize and portion their meals according to the recommended guidelines.
Promotes Limiting Unhealthy Fats: Instead of a specific category, the guidelines recommend limiting foods high in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium.

Understanding the MyPlate Model

The correct answer to the question "Which of the following is not a food category on MyPlate?" is Fats, Oils, and Sweets. Unlike its predecessor, the Food Pyramid, the MyPlate icon does not feature a separate, designated category for this group. Instead, the guidance for these items is woven into the broader recommendation to limit foods high in saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium. The MyPlate icon, which is divided into four sections with a smaller circle for dairy, represents the five primary food groups that should form the basis of a healthy diet.

The Five Pillars of a Healthy Plate

To build a balanced meal according to USDA guidelines, your plate should be visually portioned to include items from the five core food groups:

Fruits: A wide variety of fruits, whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried, are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The USDA encourages focusing on whole fruits rather than just juices to maximize nutritional benefits.
Vegetables: This group includes a colorful array of options, categorized further into dark green, red and orange, starchy, and other vegetables. This diversity ensures a broad spectrum of nutrients.
Grains: This group comprises foods like bread, rice, pasta, and cereals. The recommendation is to make at least half of your grain intake whole grains, which provide more fiber and nutrients than refined grains.
Protein Foods: This category covers a variety of sources, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, and plant-based options like beans and lentils. Varying your protein sources is key to a complete diet.
Dairy: This group includes milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified soy alternatives. It is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and Vitamin D. Low-fat or fat-free options are recommended to reduce saturated fat intake.

Why Fats and Oils Were Excluded

The decision to remove Fats, Oils, and Sweets as a distinct category on the MyPlate icon was a deliberate shift in dietary philosophy. The previous Food Pyramid had a category for these items at its very top, with the recommendation to consume them sparingly. However, this often led to confusion and did not differentiate between healthy fats (like those in olive oil or nuts) and unhealthy saturated or trans fats. The new approach from MyPlate integrates the concept of limiting these less-nutritious items into the overall healthy eating message. This places the emphasis on building meals with nutrient-dense foods from the five core categories, rather than focusing on what to avoid.

MyPlate vs. The Food Pyramid: A Comparative Look

MyPlate's visual simplicity and focus on portioning at mealtimes represents a significant evolution from the more complex Food Pyramid system it replaced in 2011.


Feature	MyPlate	Food Pyramid
Visual Representation	Simple plate and cup graphic, familiar to all.	Multi-tiered pyramid, with varying section sizes.
Key Focus	Balancing proportions on a plate, with half being fruits and vegetables.	Recommending a certain number of daily servings from each group.
Fats and Oils	No dedicated visual category. Guidance is to limit intake of unhealthy fats.	Included as a separate, small tip at the very top of the pyramid.
Grains Emphasis	Explicitly recommends making at least half of your grains whole grains.	Placed grains at the large base, which was criticized for over-emphasizing carbohydrates.
Ease of Use	Highly intuitive and easy to apply directly to a meal.	Can be confusing to translate into an actual meal plan due to serving sizes.

Visualizing Your Meal with MyPlate

Putting MyPlate into action is straightforward due to its intuitive design. The model suggests filling your plate in a specific proportion to achieve a balanced meal:

Half of your plate should be composed of fruits and vegetables. This high proportion emphasizes the importance of these vitamin- and fiber-rich foods.
The other half is for grains and protein foods, with grains generally occupying a slightly larger portion. This ensures you receive adequate energy and tissue-building nutrients.
A smaller circle or cup represents dairy, reminding you to include a low-fat or fat-free dairy option with your meal.

This simple, visual approach makes it easy to assess the nutritional balance of your meals at a glance, from planning to preparation.

Conclusion: Focus on Whole Foods, Not Empty Calories

In summary, the answer to "Which of the following is not a food category on MyPlate?" is Fats, Oils, and Sweets. MyPlate's decision to omit this category reflects a modern, simplified approach to dietary guidance, focusing on the five primary food groups that form the foundation of a healthy diet. By promoting a visual representation that emphasizes filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables and prioritizing nutrient-dense foods over those high in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium, MyPlate encourages healthier eating habits. This shift is designed to be more actionable and less focused on restrictive counting, making balanced nutrition more accessible for everyone.

For more detailed guidance and resources, visit the official MyPlate website, an authoritative source for nutritional advice.

Visit the official MyPlate.gov Website

Frequently Asked Questions

The five official food groups on the MyPlate icon are Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy.

The category of Fats, Oils, and Sweets was deliberately excluded from the main MyPlate icon to simplify the message and focus on nutrient-dense foods. Recommendations for healthy fats are still part of the broader dietary guidelines, but not featured visually.

The MyPlate guidelines encourage incorporating healthy fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, and olive oil, in moderation. The guidance is integrated into a larger message of limiting saturated fat and added sugars.

According to the MyPlate model, half of your plate should be dedicated to fruits and vegetables to ensure a nutrient-rich meal.

The small blue circle on the MyPlate graphic represents the Dairy group, encouraging the inclusion of low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt with meals.

Yes, the older Food Guide Pyramid, which MyPlate replaced, had a category for 'Fats, Oils, and Sweets' at the very top of the pyramid, indicating that they should be eaten sparingly.

Many people find MyPlate to be simpler and easier to understand because its visual is familiar and directly applicable to creating a balanced meal, unlike the older pyramid's abstract serving size recommendations.