Start Simple with MyPlate — Community Lesson Plan
Page 1
Background
Start Simple with MyPlate provides tips, ideas, and inspiration from the ve MyPlate food groups—Fruits, Vegetables,
Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy—that Americans can easily incorporate into their busy lives. The ideas t a variety of
food preferences, health goals, and budgets. Starting simple can lead to realistic and positive lifestyle changes to help
improve overall well-being and achieve a longer and healthier life.
The Start Simple with MyPlate app brings these ideas to life in an interactive way to help Americans build healthy
habits. App users set daily food group goals and will see real-time progress, view simple tips, and earn badges along
the way. The Start Simple with MyPlate app is available on iOS and Android phones and corresponding smartwatch
devices.
KEY FEATURES OF THIS APP INCLUDE:
United States Department of Agriculture
Goals from all
the MyPlate food
groups
Simple, practical
tips to support your
MyPlate goals
Real-time daily
progress as food
group goals are met
Badges can be
earned as goals are
completed over
time
A MyPlate 101
section for more
information on
healthy eating
Challenges to stay
motivated and try
new goals
Start Simple with MyPlate
COMMUNITY LESSON PLAN
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Start Simple with MyPlate — Community Lesson Plan
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Activity Overview
PURPOSE:
This lesson plan will help participants think critically
about their daily food choices and build healthy habits.
Participants will use the Start Simple with MyPlate app,
developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to
explore their current eating habits, deepen their under-
standing of MyPlate, and see how setting and meeting
goals can lead to simple and healthy changes over time.
OBJECTIVE:
At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:
1. Identify goals for each of the MyPlate food groups
2. List tips and ideas that support these food group goals
3. Describe how to use the Start Simple with MyPlate
app to set and track goals
AUDIENCE:
Adults in a nutrition education group setting
MATERIALS:
• Start Simple with MyPlate app on compatible
device (iOS and Android phones)
• Mobile data access
• Refer to the Start Simple with MyPlate webpage
for more information:
https://www.myplate.gov/startsimpleapp
Activity Instructions
1. Install the Start Simple with MyPlate app.
2. Register by creating a username and password (optional).
3. Scroll through the “Welcome to Start Simple with MyPlate” tutorial screens.
4. Select one to three daily goals in food groups of your choice OR click the “Pick for me!” button to preset
one goal from each food group.
5. Ask participants to mark o their completed goals for a 5-day period.
6. Remind participants that they will receive badges for using the app and marking o goals continuous
days in a row.
7. Badges will be automatically awarded when goals are met within the app.
8. At the end of the week, ask participants to answer the questions below to reect on their experience
from using the app.
Start Simple with MyPlate — Community Lesson Plan
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Reection, Evaluation, and Discussion
1. What MyPlate food groups did you choose for your goals? How many goals did you set in each?
Write the number in the boxes below.
A. Fruits
B. Vegetables
C. Grains
D. Protein Foods
E. Dairy
2. What specic goals did you pick under each food group? List below.
Food Group Goals
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Protein Foods
Dairy
3. What was your favorite “Simple Tip” from each of your food group goals? List below.
Food Group Favorite Tip
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Protein Foods
Dairy
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Food and Nutrition Service
December 2020
FNS-886
DietaryGuidelines.gov
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4. What badges did you earn during the 5-day period? List below.
5. What did you learn by using the app during the 5-day period? Explain below.
6. What changes to your eating habits will you make aer using the app? Explain below.
