Nutrition guide
What is MyPlate?
Last updated: July 10, 2026
MyPlate is the USDA's official nutrition guide, introduced in June 2011 to replace the food pyramid. It's a simple picture of a place setting: a plate split into four sections — fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein — with a circle for dairy beside it, showing the proportions of a healthy meal.
＋ Dairy (a glass beside the plate)
The idea in one glance
MyPlate's whole point is that you shouldn't need to count servings to eat well. Look at your plate: about half should be fruits and vegetables, with grains and protein filling the rest, plus a serving of dairy. Vegetables and grains are the two largest sections; fruits and protein are a little smaller.
The five food groups
- Fruits — whole, cut, or 100% juice; aim for variety and color.
- Vegetables — the biggest push; dark green, red, orange, beans, and starchy.
- Grains — make at least half whole grains (brown rice, oats, whole wheat).
- Protein — lean meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, nuts, soy.
- Dairy — milk, yogurt, cheese, or fortified soy alternatives.
See the detailed food-groups guide for portions and examples.
Why MyPlate replaced the pyramid
The food pyramid stacked foods vertically, which many people found confusing — it wasn't obvious how much of each to eat. A plate is something everyone recognizes and can copy at every meal. Read the full comparison infood pyramid vs MyPlate.
MyPlate and your calories
MyPlate tells you what to put on your plate; it doesn't set a calorie number. For that, calculate how many calories you should eat, then use the proportions here to fill them well. The MyPlate app (this site) helps track both — logging your meals and macros automatically.
"MyPlate" as a USDA program is a public nutrition guide. The MyPlate app referenced here is an independent product by K-UBE and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USDA.
Frequently asked questions
What is MyPlate?
MyPlate is the official nutrition guide of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), introduced in June 2011 to replace the MyPyramid food pyramid. It shows a place setting — a plate divided into four sections (fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein) with a side circle for dairy — to illustrate the proportions of each food group for a healthy meal.
What is the purpose of MyPlate?
MyPlate's purpose is to make healthy eating simple and visual: instead of counting servings from a pyramid, you glance at a plate and see that about half should be fruits and vegetables, with grains and protein making up the rest, plus a serving of dairy. It supports the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
What are the five food groups in MyPlate?
Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. On the plate, vegetables and grains are the two largest sections, fruits and protein are slightly smaller, and dairy sits as a circle beside the plate (like a glass of milk).
Is the MyPlate app the same as USDA MyPlate?
No. The MyPlate app by K-UBE (this site) is an independent AI calorie counter and food tracker — not affiliated with the USDA. The USDA also offers its own "Start Simple with MyPlate" app. Both share the name and the "know what's on your plate" idea, but they are different products.
What replaced MyPlate?
Nothing has replaced MyPlate — it remains the current USDA guide as of 2026. It replaced MyPyramid (2005), which itself replaced the original Food Guide Pyramid (1992).