USDA

Food Guide
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans serves as the federal
policy on nutrition, dictating how education,
communication and food assistance programs are
conducted by the government.

help attain and

maintain a
healthy weight
“nutrient needs should
reduce the risk
be primarily met by of chronic
eating food” diseases

promote
overall health
 MY PLATE
A USDA Food Guide

In 2011, MyPlate replaced MyPyramid as the new graphic by

which the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are translated into
food choices for healthy individuals older than 2 years.

Consistent with the dietary Guidelines, it is based on

the philosophy that nutrient needs, to the greatest
extent possible, should be met through food, not
supplements.
MY PLATE
It features a place setting with half
of the dinner plate devoted to fruits
and vegetables, 1/4 to protein
foods, 1/4 to grains, and dairy
accompanies the plate.
 In the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, the basic
messages for consumers are as follows:

Enjoy your food, but eat Make at least half your meals, and choose
less grains whole grains foods with lower
Avoid oversized Switch to fat-free or amounts of sodium
portions low-fat (1%) milk Drink water instead of
Make half your plate Compare sodium in sugary drinks
fruits and vegetables foods, such as soup,
bread, and frozen