Evaluating MyPlate After 8 Years: A Perspective.

MyPlate is the current educational icon that supports communication of US Dietary Guidelines for Americans to the public. Since its inception in 2011, there has been a paucity of research documenting consumer awareness of the icon and its effectiveness for improving Americans' diets. This perspective presents the extent to which MyPlate has been represented in the nutrition education literature and discusses current evaluation and utilization needs. The authors argue that more rigorous, theory-based evaluation of MyPlate, as both a standalone icon and part of educational interventions, is needed to advance communication and adoption of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.