How To Make Sure You're Getting The Right Nutrients With MyPlate

 Many people may be missing out on nutrients and eating improper proportions. It can be hard to know what proportions are right for us because it can be hard to estimate those proportions and people also require different amounts regarding certain factors. One resource I really want to highlight in this post is the MyPlate resource by the USDA. MyPlate is a great resource because it highlights the importance of proportions and how to divide those proportions on our plate. It is visually easier to understand than other common resources, like the food pyramid for example. 

• The image above is provided on the MyPlate website and acts as a guide to visually represent the proportions of these food groups that we should consume with our meals. Another great aspect of MyPlate is that they provide examples on the website of foods that can be included in these groups. They also encourage eating a wide variety of foods in these groups in order to get an even larger range of nutrients. I think more people should know about MyPlate because I feel as if it is the most effective visual in teaching this information about food groups and proportions. 

• Another great part about MyPlate is that there is a recipe guide on the website. There are filters too so that you can filter through things such as what equipment you need, what food group you want to focus on, and so many more. There are also recipes that are based on SNAP which could be really useful for people who are part of that program. Here is a link to that specific page: https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-kitchen/recipes

• For anyone who is interested in using MyPlate as a resource within their daily life, there are tools for that as well. MyPlate allows you to create a food plan based on you, so it is tailored for you and your health goals you want to achieve. I think this tool is especially useful since everyone has different bodies and different goals, so it is more personal and could be a lot more beneficial to use. Here is a link for the personal plan page: https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan

As mentioned previously, I wanted to share the tools that are provided with the MyPlate resource. I think MyPlate is something that should be more well known and promoted since it is visually easier to understand yet provides great detail in regards to having a healthier diet. This resource can be useful for anyone who wants to be more conscious about their nutrients they are achieving through their diet. It is a simple yet informational approach that can really benefit anyone who wants to invest in learning more about nutrition so that it can benefit themselves. It can also be a great resource for families, especially for families with different age groups as nutrition varies depending on age. 

I personally have used MyPlate in the past during my Nutrition for Health course, where I learned about it and then used it to learn more about what foods I was consuming. It helped me feel a lot more conscious about my food choices and how I could make small changes that can lead to positive changes for me. Nutrition is something that can have an affect on us both in the present and the future, so it is important that we achieve adequate nutrition so that we can be healthy and stay healthy as we grow older. I know it is hard to make healthy choices, but for me, knowing that I am making a positive change is enough motivation to choose a healthy choice over a non-healthy choice. I am trying to think about my body in the long run and how I want to be able to live the life I want, and to do that, I need to take care of my body now and later. I hope that by browsing the MyPlate website that it can be helpful in providing a positive influence, since it is so resourceful and there are so many personalized tools.