USDA Food Guides and Nutrition

Study Notes

History of Food Guides

The USDA has issued specific dietary recommendations for Americans for over 100 years.
The first food guide based on RDAs for the general public was published in 1943.
In the mid-1950s, the USDA simplified the original food guide to create the “Basic Four” food groups: milk, meats, fruits and vegetables, and breads and cereals.

MyPyramid Plan

The USDA released the MyPyramid Plan in 2005, a food guidance system based on Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005.
The MyPyramid.gov website provided food and nutrition information, physical activity resources, and enabled consumers to monitor their activity levels.

MyPlate

MyPlate (www.myplate.gov) is an interactive dietary and menu planning guide launched in 2011.
MyPlate focuses on five different food groups: fruits, vegetables, protein foods, grains, and dairy.
It does not have a portion of the plate for “oils,” as the USDA notes that “oils” is not a food group, but rather a dietary essential.
The website provides practical information about foods in each group, including how much food should be eaten, health benefits, and helpful tips.

MyPlate Plan

MyPlate Plan offers 12 different nutritionally adequate daily food patterns supplying from 1000 to 3200 kcal/day for people 2 years and older.
Each pattern is individualized to meet a person’s age, sex, physical activity level, food likes and dislikes, cultural background, and food budget.
The plan provides personalized menu planning, including daily energy needs estimates, and indicates how much food to eat from each food group.

Description

Learn about the evolution of USDA food guides, from the first food guide to MyPlate, and how to use them for nutritionally adequate daily menus. Compare MyPlate with Food Lists for effective menu planning.