Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov

To make healthy eating – on the road or at home – easier to understand, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently unveiled MyPlate, a tool to fight America’s growing obesity epidemic. MyPlate is the new food icon and website that USDA officials say is a lot easier to understand and follow than the old food pyramid, which has been around for nearly two decades.

The plate diagram is a multicolored symbol designed to help people easily visualize how much room fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy should occupy on a plate. The visual reminder is expected to help people better understand recommended proportions for healthier eating and make more balanced choices.

The MyPlate website, choosemyplate.com, contains updated nutrition guidelines, and links to dozens of information sources on diets and food. Creating a healthy eating plan doesn’t have to be complicated. To be successful in maintaining a healthy diet, follow these key guidelines:

Balancing Calories

•Enjoy your food, but eat less.

•Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase

•Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.

•Make at least half your grains whole grains.

•Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

•Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.

•Drink water instead of sugary drinks.