The USDA created MyPlate to help people understand how much they should be eating each day to maintain a healthy weight. And, it has come a long way over the years.
Using this widget below to start your MyPlate plan will tell you how many calories you should be eating and if you click the link provided, it will share how much should be fruit, protein, etc. For example, it says I should eat 2 cups of fruit per day.
Now that you have this important information, keep in mind that this will tell you how many calories you should eat to maintain your current weight. However, if you want to lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories (or burn more calories). The only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume.
Of course, as useful as it is to do for a week or so, I hate counting calories long-term. If you enjoy it, go for it! If you want to find ways to lose weight without counting calories, be sure to download a copy of our free e-Book, 10 Practical Ways to Lose Weight Without Counting Calories.