USDA’s My Plate
MyPlate is a great tool to use when planning your meals; it’s the new version of the Food Pyramid (remember that?) but it’s more user-friendly. The USDA recommends that we eat:
Fruits
- A little less than 1/4 of your daily food intake
- Whole fruit is preferable to juice but any fruit counts: fresh, frozen, canned, 100% juice or dried.
- Fill half your plate with fruits and veggies
Protein
- A little less than 1/4 of your daily food intake
- Go lean with protein.
- Nuts, beans/peas, seeds, poultry, lean meat, seafood, soy and eggs are in this group.
Vegetables
- 1/4 of your daily food intake
- Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of vegetable group.
- Fill half your plate with fruits and veggies, and vary your veggies.
Grains
- 1/4 of your daily food intake
- Whole wheat, brown rice, and oatmeal are great grains! Try to keep at least half of this as whole grains.
- Read labels to find more whole grain foods.
Dairy
- One glass of 2% milk suffices
- Go easy on cheese.
- Skim yogurt is a good choice, too.
Nutrition at Elon
Find information on ingredients, allergens, meals that meet your dietary needs and more on the Elon Dining website.
Portion Size Guide
We offer this helpful guide in a pocket size, laminated version so you can carry it around! Simply request or attend one of our nutrition presentations offered by SPARKS! or stop by the SPARKS office in Koury 154A.