MyPlate Challenges encourage healthy eating and physical activity through friendly competition. Part of the innovative SuperTracker application, a free food and activity tracking tool, this online challenge platform is available to groups of people working to get healthy together. Challenge participants earn points and compete against one another by eating a healthy diet and being physically active.
WHO?
Anyone can create a SuperTracker group challenge and invite others to join, e.g. teachers, parents, worksite wellness coordinators or health professionals.
WHAT?
Create a SuperTracker group for your colleagues, family, students, friends, or community. Then create a healthy eating challenge! Choose from ready-made challenges or design your own custom challenge. For example, the MyPlate Challenge is a ready-made, 5-week challenge that encourages participants to eat foods from each of the MyPlate food groups (Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods, and Dairy) and be physically active. Each week, a new food group is introduced to the challenge.
WHERE AND HOW?
- Create a SuperTracker group – Watch this video for a step-by-step tutorial
- Invite others to join via email or with your group code at SuperTracker.usda.gov/join
- Create a challenge for your group – Watch this video for a step-by-step tutorial
- Participants use SuperTracker’s Quick Tracker to record their foods and physical activities during the challenge. They’ll earn points and get progress updates along the way.
- Check the challenge leaderboard to discover the winners!
WHY?
About half of all American adults have one or more preventable, diet-related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and overweight and obesity. Healthy eating patterns and regular physical activity reduce the risk of chronic disease. MyPlate Challenges use friendly competition to encourage your community to try out a healthy eating pattern and be physically active. Friendly competition and social support can empower community members to continue working together to reach their health and wellness goals.