Plunkett asked Mrachek for a lesson on MyPlate, a graphic illustration used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in promotions for a healthy diet.

MyPlate meals are flexible, making it easy to create vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free variations. Everyone’s plate may look a little different based on individual preferences and dietary needs.

When moving from the food pyramid, the USDA made fruits and vegetables half of the new MyPlate guide which represents the amounts of the four food groups each meal should contain.

More than a decade after Agriculture Department officials ditched the pyramid, few Americans have heard of MyPlate, a dinner plate-shaped logo that emphasizes fruits and vegetables.

Each lesson included a story, activity and recipe, which they prepared together. For the MyPlate lesson, they listened to “Beastly Feast” and prepared a salad; “The Very Hungry Caterpillar ...

MyPlate was introduced in 2011 with high-profile support from former first lady Michelle Obama, who made healthy eating and exercise her focus.

When I saw MyPlate for the first time on Thursday, I thought it was a little insulting. The design illustrating the U.S. Dietary Guidelines seemed so hit-you-over-the-head obvious, I thought they ...

FILE - A sample plate of the food icon MyPlate, is unveiled at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, Thursday, June 2, 2011. A new study finds that few Americans have heard of MyPlate ...

A new study finds that few Americans have heard of MyPlate, the government diet guide that replaced the long-standing food pyramid ...