What is MyPlate in simple terms?

MyPlate is a picture of how to build a healthy meal: a plate that's half fruits and vegetables, with the other half split between grains and protein foods, plus a serving of dairy on the side. It was the USDA's official food guide from 2011 to 2026.

What are the five MyPlate food groups?

Fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. Vegetables and grains take the largest plate sections, fruits and protein slightly smaller ones, and dairy appears as a cup beside the plate.

Who created MyPlate, and when?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced MyPlate on June 2, 2011, replacing the MyPyramid icon. It implemented the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Does MyPlate still exist in 2026?

As a federal consumer website, no — USDA retired MyPlate.gov on January 7, 2026 when it released the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines and launched RealFood.gov. But MyPlate materials still appear in USDA's Team Nutrition school program, and the MyPlate Plan calculator and recipes are preserved and fully usable on this site.

What replaced the food pyramid?

MyPlate replaced the pyramid era in 2011 — first the 1992 Food Guide Pyramid, then its 2005 successor MyPyramid. In January 2026, the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines introduced a new icon that flips the original: an inverted pyramid with protein, produce, and healthy fats at the wide top.

How do I get my personalized MyPlate Plan?

Use the free calculator on this site: enter your age, sex, height, weight, and activity level, and you'll get a daily calorie target translated into specific food-group amounts, with printable and emailable results.

How is MyPlate different from the food pyramid?

The pyramid ranked food groups vertically by recommended quantity, which most people misread. MyPlate shows the same science as a place setting — proportions of an actual meal — making the core advice (half your plate fruits and vegetables) visible without explanation.

How does MyPlate compare to Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate?

Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate (also 2011) uses the same plate format but emphasizes whole grains specifically, adds healthy oils, recommends water over dairy, and distinguishes protein quality. MyPlate's defenders note it was designed as a population-wide floor, paired with quantitative personal targets via the MyPlate Plan.

Is MyPlate.food the official USDA MyPlate website?

No. MyPlate.food is an independent project by Peppermint Engineering, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the USDA. It preserves the MyPlate Plan calculator methodology and the MyPlate Kitchen recipe library after USDA retired the MyPlate.gov website in January 2026. USDA's current guidance lives at RealFood.gov.

What Is MyPlate? The USDA Food Guide, Explained (2011–2026)

MyPlate was the USDA's food guide from 2011 to 2026: a plate split among the five food groups, with personalized daily amounts via the MyPlate Plan. What it taught, its history, and where the tools live now.