Recently the USDA said goodbye to the food pyramid and hello to MyPlate. The food pyramid had six vertical stripes to represent the five food groups plus fats and oils. MyPlate features four sections (vegetables, fruits, grains and protein) plus a side order of dairy in blue. It uses a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting.

The message of MyPlate is similar to the pyramid in that you should eat a variety of foods and eat less of some foods and more of others. MyPlate is part of a larger initiative based on 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to help consumers make better food choices.

The big message is that fruits and vegetables take up half the plate, with the vegetable portion being a little bigger than the fruit section. The grain section is bigger than the protein section. This is because it is recommended you eat more vegetables than fruit and more grains than protein foods.

The divided plate also aims to discourage super-big portions which can cause weight gain. MyPlate is designed to remind Americans to eat healthy.

There are some main messages MyPlate is hoping to convey to Americans. They include the following:

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half of your plate, fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
• Make at least half your grains whole grains.
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals-and choose foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks

With Americans experiencing increasing rates of overweight and obesity, MyPlate is designed to educate and empower people to make healthier food choices for themselves, their families and children. Now is the time to eat healthier and pass this knowledge on to our kids.