Secretary Vilsack: For Americans to lead happy, productive lives,

it helps to stay healthy, active and fit.

It's really pretty simple.

Choose a healthier plate and balance it with exercise.

It all comes down to the choices we make.

That's why I'm excited to introduce to you USDA's new food

icon, MyPlate, a simple reminder to make healthy food choices.

MyPlate symbolizes meal time and the food groups: fruits,

vegetables, grains, protein and dairy;

a healthy plate for every meal.

It's easy.

And what we eat matters.

Overweight and obesity rates are at dangerously high levels.

And the Obama administration has worked to support Americans who

want to improve their health and nutrition.

MyPlate is a departure from the food pyramid

you're used to seeing.

It's an easy to understand visual which shows how to build

a healthy meal based on the 2010 dietary guidelines for

all of Americans.

And if you want to learn more about a healthy diet,

you can visit ChooseMyPlate.gov to get messages,

tools and how-to materials about healthy eating.

This website will equip consumers with information

on staying healthy and tips on balancing calories,

foods to increase, and foods to reduce.

I hope you're as excited as I am about MyPlate and the other

resources to help Americans make healthy choices,

at ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Next time you sit down for a meal, before you eat,

think about what's on your plate.

And in the months and years ahead,

we hope that MyPlate becomes your plate.