Think you know a lot about the five food groups? The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion – the group that created MyPlate – just released a set of quizzes on the five food groups. These quizzes, designed to challenge, teach, and even entertain, are intended for anyone who wants to learn about the food groups or wants a refresher – adults and kids alike.
USDA’s food groups have been around for about 75 years. Though the current names of the food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy – have changed slightly over time, the food groups were key components of MyPyramid (2005), the Food Guide Pyramid (1992), Food Wheel (1984), Hassle-Free Daily Food Guide (1979), Basic Four (1956), and Basic Seven (1940). For more information on the previous food guides, visit A Brief History of USDA Food Guides. Food groups make it easier to learn about nutrition and plan healthy meals. Each food group provides specific nutrients that our bodies need, so instead of trying to track dozens of nutrients, you can just focus on getting the five groups.
Like MyPlate and the ChooseMyPlate.gov website, these new quizzes encourage people to make healthy food and beverage choices from all five food groups.
The quizzes will test your knowledge not just on what foods are in each group (Where do tomatoes go anyway?), but they touch upon nutrition, health, and other benefits of each of the food groups (What beneficial nutrients are in whole grains that aren’t in refined grains?).
For all of us, eating healthy is a journey shaped by many factors, including our stage of life, situations, preferences, access to food, culture, traditions, and the personal decisions we make over time. It’s important to remember that all food and beverage choices count. The ChooseMyPlate.gov website offers ideas and tips to help you improve your health. The new MyPlate quizzes are another tool to use to help move yourself – or others – in the right direction.
To test your knowledge of the five food groups, visit www.choosemyplate.gov/quiz.
