Nutrition
We believe that every young adult deserves the tools to thrive. Here’s some good news — all food can be good food. From simple recipes to handy tips, we're here to help you fuel your fearless future! Don’t forget to check out our life skills section for cooking videos and more pro-tips!
Dear Fearless Community,
As the creator of Fearless Futures, I wanted to take a moment to share a personal reflection with you all. Crafting the nutrition portion of this platform was undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects of its development journey. Why? Because I am highly aware of the harm diet culture has on so many lives. Pseudoscience, unattainable standards, and snake oil/placebo products are all around us. Diet culture can be obvious, but also incredibly sneaky. It’s not easy to tell what can be harmful when it comes to nutrition, even for adults. The conflicting information you may find below emphasizes this!
Our vision is clear — One day, foster youth aging out of the system will have no fear of the future regarding housing, employment, education, and success. So, while developing the nutrition section, I sought to provide guidance that isn't rooted in restrictive rules or fad diets but is instead grounded in evidence-based research and a respect for individuality. Because true health isn't about conforming to a one-size-fits-all approach, but about embracing our unique journeys and finding what works best for each of us.
Before embarking on any new nutrition or diet regimen, I strongly urge you to consult with a qualified medical professional or registered dietitian. They can offer personalized advice tailored to your unique circumstances, ensuring that any adjustments you make are safe and appropriate for your well-being.
As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that being fearless isn't about pushing ourselves to the brink or sacrificing our well-being for an unattainable ideal. It's about daring to challenge the narratives that seek to confine us and forging our own paths toward healthy lives.
Sincerely,
Sarah Guthery
The MyPlate Plan* shows your food group targets – what and how much to eat within your calorie allowance.
Your food plan is personalized, based on your:
Age
Sex
Height
Weight
Physical activity level
To get started, click on the "Start" button. You can also find out your MyPlate Plan in Spanish.
*The MyPlate Plan calculator uses different formulas based on the user's age, and additional adjustment factors may be applied based on other user-entered information.
In general, for ages 12 months to 8 years the Dietary Reference Intakes (2002) are used. For ages 9-18 years, Estimate Energy Requirement (EER) formulas (2006) are used with factors applied based on Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile. For ages 19+, Estimate Energy Requirement (EER) formulas (2006) are used with factors applied based on calculated BMI. Calculations for people who are pregnant or lactating vary based on age and other factors.
