On June 8, 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced MyPlate, a plate-shaped icon. The plate replaces the food pyramid that has been used for the past 20 years. The icon, which is shaped like a place setting, is intended to provide a simple visual dietary guide. The central plate has 4 labeled sections representing vegetables, fruits, grains and protein. Completing the meal is a smaller circle for dairy products.

The MyPlate campaign is designed to help us move toward healthier eating habits. The major emphasis is increase dietary sources of fruits, vegetables and whole grains while enjoying food, but eating less and avoiding oversized portions.

The new web site is http://www.choosemyplate.gov. The web site contains a great deal of valuable information and numerous resources.

Based on the Dietary Guidelines 2010 for Americans, recommendations include:

Balance calories

Eat less, smaller portions

Fill half of the plate with fruits and vegetables

Use whole grains (at least half of your grain intake)

Use fat-free or low-fat dairy products

Reduce sodium intake

Drink water instead of sugary drinks