Since MyPlate’s debut in 2011, the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) has expanded and improved upon outreach efforts, continuously offering new resources and tools. This year is no exception, with the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate, MyWins campaign released simultaneously in January 2016. Let’s explore what else is in store!
MyPlate, My Wins Initiative
CNPP kicked off the year with the launch of MyPlate, MyWins, a consumer education initiative that translates the 2015- 2020 Dietary Guidelines into actionable messages for consumers. The campaign and its accompanying resources help consumers find solutions to overcome common barriers to healthy eating, such as time, budget, and cooking skills. The campaign aims to inspire Americans to make small changes to their food and beverage choices, gradually building to a healthy eating style that is realistic and works for them. As the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines emphasize, it is a healthy eating style over time that has the biggest impact on health -- not a single food, nutrient, or meal.
An exciting way CNPP is bringing the MyPlate, MyWins campaign to life is through video. These videos feature real American families offering their healthy eating solutions in an interview and documentary format. There are also lively animated videos that educate viewers about the components of a healthy eating style and small changes they can make to eat and live healthier every day. All campaign resources and information can be found at www.choosemyplate.gov/mywins.
ChooseMyPlate.gov
Last year, choosemyplate.gov received a facelift and is now sporting a fresh modern design, with new desktop, tablet, and mobile versions. New features include an interactive MyPlate on the homepage for quick access to information about the five food groups; website organization by audience; social media sharing; and a series of new interactive quizzes. Visitors can now submit testimonials (“MyPlate, MyWins”) to share their MyPlate success stories with others.
The newly released MyPlate Mini Poster is a colorful quick guide that provides tips from each of the five food groups, as well as ways to cut back on calories from added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium. Print yours today at www.choosemyplate.gov/miniposter.
SuperTracker Groups and Challenges
SuperTracker is a free food, physical activity, and weight tracking tool. It provides nutrition recommendations based on the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that are personalized for your specific needs. The Groups and Challenges feature, added this year, allows groups of people to use SuperTracker together for added motivation. Group leaders can also create a challenge to encourage healthy eating and physical activity through friendly competition and gamification. Find out more here: www.supertracker.usda.gov/aboutgroups.
Looking Ahead
With the release of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate, MyWins campaign, MyPlate has had a very exciting year! In the next few months, additional resources and tools will be continue to be introduced, including public user groups and challenges on SuperTracker, new MyPlate, MyWins videos, and much more! To stay up-to-date with the latest features and resources, you can sign up for MyPlate email updates.
