How To Create A Profile On Choosemyplate Gov

Introduction

What is choosemyplate.gov?
Choosemyplate.gov is a website designed by The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which is an organization under The National States Department of Agriculture. Its purpose is to provide nutritional educational tools to the public, and it provides a visual map on what your plate should look like with the suitable serving size for each food group.

ChooseMyPlate.gov, from the United States Department of Agriculture, is a resource to showcase the federal government's new food icon, My Plate, which is meant to help people make good choices about the food they eat. The new My Plate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein, and dairy food groups. The icon itself illustrates these food groups as different colors on the plate:
• Fruits are red
• Vegetables are green
• Grains are orange
• Protein is purple
• Dairy is blue

My Plate replaces the My Pyramid image as the government's primary food group symbol as an easy-to-understand visual cue to help people adopt healthy eating habits consistent with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. My Pyramid will remain available to interested health professionals and nutrition educators in a special section of the new website.

Visit: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ for more information or an informative video from You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cCLLtFC6EA; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELzRhmLRkFA&feature=fvwrel;

How can you use it?
Choosemyplate.gov can be used to learn about the proper serving size for each food group, and provides examples of various food items that you can use to alternate your choices each day. In addition, it also includes tools that can help you learn how to count calories, so that you may stay on track. The site also provides information on physical activity, and how you can get started with very simple movements, such as walking more and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Take time to visit the websites resources, because there is a lot to explore!!

Food Group- Grains
How does your food culture influence your grain choices?
– In most cultures found around the globe the primary staple food that is consumed is usually found under the grain category.
Ex: Rice, Pasta, Potato, Fufu (popular in Ghana)
Changing your eating habits doesn't necessarily mean that you have to change your favorite food staples, but their portions must be limited.

How do I know what is an appropriate portion size for grain?
– Let my plate guide you. No, not my plate, but choosemyplate.gov website.

Grain Serving Activity
What is our usual serving size?
Can you guess how many servings of rice are in these dishes?

How many grain items is this person consuming?

Remember: serving size for rice is ½ cup of cooked rice. As a reference use the cooking spoon and just take one flat scoop. Make sure the scoop does not look like a tall mountain! The picture below shows ½ cup of cooked rice, ½ cup of beans and a mere 3 ounce roll. Beans count as part of the Vegetable group or the Protein group, ½ cup of beans is equivalent to 2 ounces of the protein group.

Dr. Mercado's research shows that Latino's often mix starchy vegetables such as plantains, corn and yuca with starches such as white rice, creating a disproportionate plate high in starch. Since the USDA food guidelines are translated into Spanish with limited cultural consideration, it is understandable how even starchy vegetables can balance out a healthy plate. The Latino Plate takes Culture into consideration and provides a guideline of the proper serving size for each food group.

Which do you think is the ideal Latino plate?

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