What Do You Know About the 'Choose My Plate' Eating Plan?

The USDA first developed the Four Food Groups, followed by the Food Pyramid in the 1990s. The current guidelines, last updated in 2010, are easier to follow than either of these earlier concepts and can be found at ChooseMyPlate.gov, a website maintained by the USDA.

Research has shown that eating a variety of healthy foods may help protect against heart disease and some cancers. Healthy eating also means including a variety of foods in your diet and watching portion sizes.

At least half of your grains (cereal, bread, rice, and pasta) should be whole grains. The amount of grains you should have each day depends on your age, gender, and how active you are. A 30-year-old woman who gets 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day should consume 6 ounces of grains daily. A man of the same age and activity level should consume 9 ounces of grains daily.

It's important to know what constitutes a cup (or an ounce for grains and meats) to ensure that you get the recommended amount of each food group. Fruits and vegetable amounts are also given as cups in the guidelines.

The dietary guidelines say that a 2,000-calorie diet should include 2½ cups of vegetables. A person who should consume more calories or fewer calories would need a different amount. Your diet should include dark green leafy vegetables, orange and red vegetables, dry peas and beans, starchy vegetables, and "other" vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage, mushrooms, and zucchini.

You can buy vegetables raw, canned, or frozen -- all have the same nutrients. When cooking vegetables, be sure to steam or microwave them. Overcooking vegetables can decrease their nutritive value. Also, rinse canned vegetables to decrease the sodium content. Because raw leafy vegetables take up a larger volume, you can eat twice as much of them to count as 1 serving.

In addition to beans, eggs, and nuts, the protein foods group includes meat, fish, and poultry.

Oils found in fruits, vegetables, and nuts are an essential source of nutrients, including essential fatty acids and vitamins. Because this food group is dense in calories, however, you should keep your portions small.