In an effort to make healthier food choices easier to understand, the U.S. Department of Agriculture created  a simple and familiar visual, that would be easy to remember and use, a place setting. MyPlate is a reminder to find your healthy eating style and build it throughout your lifetime. Everything you eat and drink matters. The right mix can help you be healthier now and in the future.
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. For those with a bleeding disorder, eating the right foods helps to provide the body with essential nutrients it needs to keep muscles and joints healthy and strong. Being at a proper weight can help to reduce any undue or additional stress to joints.
The MyPlate graphic is a visual cue that identifies the five (5) basic food groups from which consumers can choose healthy foods to build a healthy plate. These groups include vegetables, fruit, grains, protein and dairy.
Three areas of key importance in the new place setting are:
1. Balancing calories:
- Enjoy your food but eat less.
- Avoid over-sized portions.
2. Foods to Increase
- Make 1/2 your plate fruits and vegetables.
- Make at least 1/2 your grains whole grains.
- Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
3. Foods to Reduce
- Choose foods that are lower in sodium.
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
Keep these ideas in mind when grocery shopping and planning and preparing meals.
For more information and practical tips to help you build a healthier diet including, healty recipes, visit HFA’s FitFactor page.
Or visit the USDA’s MyPlate page.
http://www.choosemyplate.gov
