Evaluating MyPlate After 8 Years: A Perspective

Matthew Chrisman; Lillian Karina Diaz Rios

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2019.02.006

Evaluating MyPlate After 8 Years: A Perspective

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2019 Jul-Aug;51(7):899-903. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.02.006. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Authors

Matthew Chrisman¹, Lillian Karina Diaz Rios²

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.
² Health Sciences Research Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Merced, Merced, CA. Electronic address: kdiazrios@ucmerced.edu.

PMID: 30902427
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.02.006

Abstract

MyPlate is the current educational icon that supports communication of US Dietary Guidelines for Americans to the public. Since its inception in 2011, there has been a paucity of research documenting consumer awareness of the icon and its effectiveness for improving Americans' diets. This perspective presents the extent to which MyPlate has been represented in the nutrition education literature and discusses current evaluation and utilization needs. The authors argue that more rigorous, theory-based evaluation of MyPlate, as both a standalone icon and part of educational interventions, is needed to advance communication and adoption of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Keywords: MyPlate; USDA; dietary guidelines; nutrition education.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diet, Healthy / methods*
Health Communication / methods*
Health Education / methods*
Health Promotion / methods*
Humans
Nutrition Policy*
United States