Think of energy balance like a seesaw. If you sit on one end of a seesaw, the other end goes up. But if someone who weighs the same amount as you sits on the other end, the seesaw is even. In this example, the seesaw is balanced. You want to do the same with the foods you eat and the activities you do. They should even each other out so your energy seesaw is evenly balanced.

Go, Slow, and Whoa Foods
MyPlate foods can be broken down into “Go,” “Slow,” and “Whoa” foods.

“Go” foods have the right amount of energy for us to maintain energy balance. They are fresh, they have no solid fat, salt, or added sugar.

“Slow” foods have a small amount of solid fat, salt, and added sugar, but they’re still okay to have.

“Whoa” foods have a lot more energy, which can throw our bodies out of balance. They are the most processed and have a lot of solid fat, salt, and added sugar.

The food we eat gives us energy to move and play. The healthiest plate is MyPlate–half a plate of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy give us the right amount of energy for everyday moving and playing.

Go Activities
“Go” activities get your heart rate up and make you breathe harder, feel warmer, and sweat. These include things like running, jumping jacks, swimming, and more. These activities help you stay in energy balance because they burn the energy you get from food.

Remember, the food you eat gives you energy and you burn that energy through the activities you do. Energy balance is when the energy from foods equals the energy burned in activities.
If you eat more or less food than the activities you do, you may gain or lose weight because of energy imbalance.