"Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day" with MyPlate

March is National Nutrition Month, and each year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a unique theme to promote healthy eating.  This year, the theme is "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day".  This theme brings to mind the unique tastes, beliefs, and cultures of the American people.

Think about the foods that you and your family eat everyday.

• Do you use special spices and herbs -- like cilantro, basil or curry?
• Do you cook your foods a certain way -- like bake or stir-fry?

Not only are these foods special, but they can also fit into a healthy diet.  In order to provide your family with a healthy meal, just think about MyPlate.  MyPlate is a symbol that helps explain all of the pieces to a healthy meal.  Half of MyPlate is filled with fruits and veggies; the other half has whole grains and lean protein.  Fat-free or low-fat dairy is also a part of MyPlate.  So, even with different colors, flavors, and textures your meals can still fit into MyPlate.  If you are unsure if your meal fits, check out the MyPlate food groups below. 

Group	Type	Some Examples
Fruits	Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% fruit juice	Apples, grapes, peaches, mangos, 100% orange juice
Veggies	Fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% veggie juice	Green beans, beets, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, onions, 100% tomato juice
Grains	Whole grains from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or other grains	Whole grain bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, oatmeal, popcorn
Protein	Lean meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, eggs, soy products, nuts and seeds	Lean beef, chicken, tuna, black beans, lentils, almonds, veggie burgers
Dairy	Fat-free or low fat milk and milk products	Skim milk, low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, cheedar cheese

How are you trying to "Eat Right" with MyPlate?