MyPlate is government initiative that helps you begin a healthy eating style and maintain it throughout your lifetime. The key is in the combination of foods on your plate. The right mix can help you be healthier now and in the future.

This means:
• Focus on variety, amount, and nutrition.
• Choose foods and beverages with less saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
• Start with small changes to build healthier eating styles.
• Support healthy eating for everyone.
Here are some basic tips:
• Focus on whole fruits: Include fruit at breakfast! Top whole-grain cereal with your favorite fruit, add berries to pancakes, or mix dried fruit into hot oatmeal.
• Vary your veggies: Cook a variety of colorful veggies. Make extra vegetables and save some for later. Use them for a stew, soup, or a pasta dish.
• Vary your protein: Next taco night, try adding a new protein, like shrimp, beans, chicken, or beef.
• Make half your grains whole grains: Add brown rice to your stir-fry dishes. Combine your favorite veggies and protein foods for a nutritious meal.
• Move to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt: Enjoy a low-fat yogurt parfait for breakfast. Top with fruit and nuts to get in two more food groups.
• Drink and eat less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars: Cook at home and read the ingredients to compare foods – healthy eating begins at the grocery store!

Eating healthy is a journey shaped by many factors, including your stage of life, situations, preferences, access to food, culture, traditions, and the personal decisions we make over time. All your food and beverage choices count. MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you create a healthier eating style that meets your individual needs and improves your health. To learn more visit www.choosemyplate.gov. A class will be offered at the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation March 14 and March 21. Call 915-562-7660 for more information or visit www.rgcf.org.

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• Food & Nutrition