My Plate

Food is fuel for our bodies. It provides us with the energy that we need every day. Food also helps to supply our bodies with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. We need to eat many different kinds of foods each and every day to stay healthy. The food pyramid and the MyPlate models help us understand how to make good choices for our meals and snacks. Making good choices provides us a balanced diet that includes all the food groups with the right number of calories and nutrients for our bodies. Making good choices from the time we are young helps to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health problems.