- Website Name: The name of the website is USDA ChooseMyPlate U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The address is Web.
- Date of Last Update: There was no accessible information about the date when the webpage was last modified/updated.
- Authors: The author of the website is the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP), which was established in 1994 to enhance the nutrition and well-being of USA citizens. MyPlate is one of the CNPP’s core projects to support its objectives, promoting a healthy lifestyle and healthy meals (Croke 525). MyPlate Kitchen provides recipes from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs such as the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Target Audience: In the section About us, it states that CNPP targets all Americans regardless of their age or social status (ChooseMyPlate). Furthermore, on the website, there is an icon where visitors can view and browse by the audience, which consists of 6 categories: children, students, adults, families, professionals, and multiple languages.
- Type of Information: Firstly, as this website is about food and nutrition, on the main page, the visitors can explore and learn more about different food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein foods). Besides, it is available to create the MyPlate plan, considering age, sex, and food preferences. There are many tips and popular questions on how to eat healthy and balanced on a budget; visitors are always aware of new recipes and cookbooks. The section Infographic allows users to print and share on social media some helpful and bright graphics.
Reliability
- MyPlate emphasizes eating nutrient-enriched food and minimizing saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars. Avoiding meals with a high level of saturated fats and added sugars is considered a victory and a personal win on the path to living healthier. The site advises eating more whole grains and moving to low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt.
- This website might appear to be selling more farm products, as the site’s founder is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which leads to the promotion of grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Content cannot be fully recognized as professionally written and presented because there is no link to academic, scientific research, or expert opinions. It follows only The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans without any alternative recommendations (DeSalvo 520). It provides no basic knowledge about digestion or macronutrients.
- In section Resources on the page, MyPlate TIP SHEETS visitors find several printable materials, images, and graphics downloadable in PDF, JPG formats, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (ChooseMyPlate).
- Any bias is not identified as the author does not present enough information about different points of view.
- The website offers The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) official website, www.usda.gov, with additional information.
Highlights
The most impressive and useful part of the website is the ability to search MyPlate tip sheets, where visitors select any audiences and topics which seem interesting to them. Moreover, the site’s design is user-friendly; it is easy to find recipes depending on personal taste and budget. It helps to get more organized, save money, to understand the price tags, and read the food label properly. Colorful and comprehensible infographics are also attractive to children.
Overall Impression
In general, the website MyPlate is credible rather than non-credible. Still, considering that this site concerns nutrition and health, besides the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it should be associated with some medical institutions specializing in dietary science. The website promotes farm products that are less popular among citizens; consequently, it encourages planning the budget and buying more plant-based food. Visitors see the recipes depending on the prime growing and farmers’ market seasons. The motivation to lead a healthy life moves with the assistance of the U.S Department of Agriculture; there are accurate facts and details of the consumer economy principles.
Works Cited
ChooseMyPlate: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2020. Web
Croke, Lisa M. “DGAC Makes Food-based Recommendations in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” American Family Physician, 93(6), 2016, p. 525.
DeSalvo, Karen B. “Public Health 3.0: Applying the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans”. Public Health Reports, 131(4), 2016, pp. 518-521.