Awareness and Use of MyPlate Among U.S. Adults: Evidence From Nationally Representative Data, 2024.

Abstract

USDA's current nutrition guide-MyPlate-was introduced in 2011 to promote the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and make it easier for U.S. consumers to follow balanced eating habits. This study estimates the share of U.S. adults who report knowing about the MyPlate plan and trying to follow its recommendations, and identifies the consumer characteristics that predict use of the MyPlate plan. Using a nationally representative sample of 5,930 U.S. adults aged 18 and older from the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), an ordered probit regression model was estimated to predict MyPlate plan use. The 2024 HINTS data were publicly released in May 2025 and these public-use and de-identified data were analyzed in June 2025. In 2024, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults (32.5%; 95% CI=30.6%, 34.4%) reported knowing about the MyPlate plan. However, fewer than half of them translated this knowledge into practice, as only about 1 in 7 U.S. adults (14.8%; 95% CI=13.2%, 16.3%) reported knowing about and trying to follow MyPlate plan recommendations. The likelihood of trying to follow MyPlate guidance was significantly higher among young adults aged 18-24 years, women, households with children, English survey respondents, and metropolitan area residents. Approximately 15% of U.S. adults in 2024 reported that they knew about the MyPlate plan and tried to follow its recommendations. Age group, sex, number of children, survey language, and residential location influenced the likelihood of trying to follow MyPlate guidance.