Get Your Plate in Shape: Breakfast

We're giving you 5 breakfast options that fit into the USDA's MyPlate guidelines in honor of National Nutrition Month.

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March is National Nutrition Month, and in honor of this official campaign sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, we’re giving you meal options that follow the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines. This week we’re hitting up 5 breakfast options.

The Guidelines

MyPlate is about giving you a visual of which foods should be on your plate at each meal. You want to build a healthy meal from the 5 food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, lean proteins and nonfat or low fat dairy. You don’t need to have all 5 groups on your plate at each meal, but you should focus on getting in as many as possible, especially fruits and veggies.

Meal 1: Oatmeal
½ cup orange juice

Food groups:  whole grains, fruits, dairy
Meal 2: Cereal & Milk
1 cup ready-to-eat whole grain cereal
½ cup nonfat, low fat or soy milk
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 teaspoon jam or jelly

Food groups: whole grains, fruit, dairy
Meal 3: Breakfast Burrito
½ grapefruit

Food groups: Grains, fruit, veggie, protein
Meal 4: Cookies & Milk
1 cup nonfat, low fat or soy milk
1 medium banana

Food groups: Whole grains, fruit, dairy
Meal 5: Smoothie
1 slice whole grain bread
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter

Food groups: Whole grains, fruit, protein, dairy

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Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »

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