Shop Simple with MyPlate

by Lindsey Sexton - January 20, 2025

Looking for a free and reliable resource for helping you make healthy choices and stay within your budget? Find savings in your area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods using USDA's online tool, Shop Simple with MyPlate.

What is Shop Simple with MyPlate?

Shop Simple with MyPlate is an easy to use online tool to help you plan and prepare tasty, affordable meals. It offers tips, recipes, and nutrition information for 60 everyday foods. Want fresh ideas for using canned corn? Visit the app and the first section you'll see are tips on how to choose and store canned corn. (Did you know it's safe to eat corn straight from the can? It is!) Next, you'll find serving ideas with very little preparation required. Then you'll see a bank of low-cost, easy to prepare recipes - and they taste good, too! The last tab shows nutrition information for canned corn including calories, fat, carbohydrate, and protein, but also other nutrients you may be interested in such as sodium, fiber, and iron. It's so handy that all of these features can be found under each food.

Why Should I Use Shop Simple with MyPlate?

Shop Simple with MyPlate is a terrific place to start for beginning cooks wanting to learn about a food before trying it and even experienced cooks may find some new information on an old favorite. On the home screen tap on the the Browse by Food Group button to start learning more about your favorite foods and ideas for including new ones into your everyday meals.

Shop Simple with MyPlate can help guide you through each step of meal planning, shopping, and preparation. Cooking at home takes practice and planning, and it can be quite rewarding when a meal comes together. That being said, even the most experienced cooks will make a mistake here and there. Give yourself a break if things don't turn out exactly as you thought they would and try to not let it discourage you from trying again.

The app can also help you find food in your area, simply type in your zip code after tapping on the options in the Explore section toward the bottom of the screen.