MyPlate-Approved Recipes

The USDA's MyPlate was designed to illustrate what a healthy plate looks like -- a way realistic way to help Americans build healthy meals. The guidelines recommend filling half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, 1/4 with grains and 1/4 with protein. A cup of milk on the side reminds folks to drink low-fat or nonfat milk or have a cup of yogurt each day.

Along with MyPlate, the USDA offers 7 eat-better messages based on studies and observations of the American diet:

• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half your plate fruits and veggies.
• Make at least half your grains whole.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1 percent) milk
• Compare sodium in foods and choose those with the lowest numbers.
• Choose water over sugary drinks.

Choose from our MyPlate-inspired recipes to help make dinner at home easy, healthy and satisfying.

MyPlate-Inspired Breakfast Recipes:

• English Muffin Breakfast Pizza
• "Hot Chocolate" Banana-Nut Oatmeal
• Peach Pie Smoothies

MyPlate-Inspired Beef Recipes:

• Steak and Tabbouleh Salad
• Steak Pizzaiola

MyPlate-Inspired Chicken Recipes:

• Apple-Honey Drumsticks
• Buffalo Chicken Salad
• Chicken Cacciatore

MyPlate-Inspired Fish Recipes:

• Salmon With Lemon, Capers and Rosemary
• Shrimp Scampi

MyPlate-Inspired Pasta Recipes:

• Pasta Puttanesca
• Penne With Spinach Sauce
• Sicilian Cauliflower Pasta

MyPlate-Inspired Pork Recipes:

• Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
• Pork Tenderloin Steaks With Cabbage and Apples
• Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos

MyPlate-Inspired Side Dish Recipes:

• Kale Caesar Salad
• Oven-Baked Fries
• Wheat Berry Salad

MyPlate-Inspired Vegetarian Recipes:

• Spicy Vegan Sloppy Joes
• Spinach and Ricotta Pizza
• Whole-Wheat Spaghetti With Swiss Chard and Pecorino Cheese

Find more MyPlate-approved recipes on our Pinterest boards.