The USDA National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs (NSLP and SBP) apply the principles of the most recent recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The MyPlate icon was designed to help consumers understand the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – the standards on which USDA Child Nutrition Programs are built. Different colors represent the five MyPlate food groups:

  • Purple – meat/meat alternates
  • Orange – grains
  • Green – vegetables
  • Red – fruits
  • Blue – milk

Icons are included on each recipe in Mississippi Recipes for Success that contributes to a reimbursable school breakfast or lunch meal. The icons coordinate with the colors used on MyPlate. There are five vegetable icons that represent the five vegetable subgroups: beans and peas, dark green, red and orange, starchy, and other.