Special to The T&D The Times and Democrat | Posted: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 9:00 am |

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is encouraging Americans to return to the basics of healthy eating during Marchs National Nutrition Month campaign, Get Your Plate in Shape.

This years theme focuses on the U.S. Department of Agricultures MyPlate, a simplified explanation of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, says Rebecca Fuller, clinical nutrition manager at the Regional Medical Center. Get Your Plate in Shape encourages a balanced diet, proper portion sizes and an active lifestyle.

Focusing on the new MyPlate can help our community make simple changes to their daily eating plans that will benefit them for a lifetime, Fuller said. They can do things like eating the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy each day start building your plate with fruits and vegetables. Choose bright, vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables, and make them half of your plate. Next add grains, preferably whole grains like brown rice, whole-wheat pasta and 100-percent wheat bread. Complete the remaining portion of your plate with lean proteins and add a low-fat source of dairy.

Launched in June 2011, USDAs MyPlate replaced MyPyramid as the governments primary food group symbol as an easy-to-understand visual cue to help consumers adopt healthy eating habits consistent with the Dietary Guidelines. Dividing the plate into four sections fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins, as well as a glass representing dairy products it shows consumers how they can incorporate the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines into every meal.

Initiated in 1973 as a week-long event, National Nutrition Week became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing public interest in nutrition. For more information about National Nutrition Month, visit eatright.org/nnm.

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'Get Your Plate in Shape' during National Nutrition Month