The MyPlate guidelines are meant to help American families eat the right amount of each food group each day. It can be hard to know how much you're supposed to eat, so having guidelines on hand is helpful. Practicing good dietary choices at home will help teach your kids how to live a healthy and happy life.
Key Points
- How many vegetables you need each day depends on your age and gender.
- There are a lot of options for vegetables; go for frozen or canned options if you want veggies that can be stored for a long time.
- Have your kids eat their veggies at home, where you can watch them to ensure they eat what's given to them.
MyPlate Vegetables Guidelines
The amount of vegetables you need each day varies from as little as 2/3 cup to four cups, depending on your age and gender. According to the MyPlate guidelines, one cup of vegetables is equivalent to one cup of raw or cooked vegetables, or two cups of leafy salad greens. One cup of vegetable juice can also count.
There are a lot of options out there for vegetables. This food group certainly won't be popular with kids, so you may need to get a bit creative to ensure your children eat enough veggies each day. Broccoli, carrots, peppers, sweet potatoes, and squash are common vegetables that many families enjoy.
Don't give your kids veggies for school. You want to make sure your child's veggies are eaten; if you send them off to school, they'll likely be traded off or thrown away. Give them their veggies in the evening at dinner, when you can ensure they're eaten.
Having some vegetable juice on hand is also a good idea. For nights when vegetables just don't fit into your dinner plans, giving everyone a cup of vegetable juice to drink will ensure they get their daily dose of this food group. Vegetables are packed with various vitamins and minerals, making them one of the most important food groups.
