Everything you eat and drink matters. The USDA recommends using its MyPlate reminder tool, which uses a 9-inch plate to help you focus on a healthful variety and amount of nutritious foods. The model encourages you to start with small changes to build a healthier eating style. Choosing foods and beverages with less saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars can help you achieve this goal. The various colors on the plate give you a visual sense of how to balance meals.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) offers an interactive tool on its website called “Create Your Plate.” The tool puts additional emphasis on an effective way to manage your blood glucose levels and lose weight. To help manage your carbohydrate intake, your plate is filled with more non-starchy vegetables and smaller portions of starchy foods.