Alice RD
Could you meet the New American Plate (NAP) challenge?
So far over 1,500 people from around the US (and the world) are ready to start. Beginning next week, these Challengers are stepping up to the 
New American Plate Challenge to lose weight healthfully and lower their cancer risk through healthier eating and increased physical activity.
Here’s how it works:
Every Monday for 12 weeks, you’ll get a specific challenge (diet or physical activity) that helps you move towards the NAP way of eating or to the AICR recommendation to get at least 30 minutes daily of moderate physical activity.
- Every Friday, you will receive a teaser email to prepare for the upcoming weekly challenge, describing what you need to buy at the grocery store or ways to prepare for moving more.
- The Monday morning email will reveal that week’s challenge and you’ll find more specifics, including tips, tools and recipes on the NAP Challenge website to help you meet the week’s goals.
- Throughout the week, you’ll be able to post on your own personal page, including a place to blog. Share photos of your meals to show how you are progressing toward the New American Plate way of eating. And check in with other Challengers on the message board and share ideas and support.
- On Wednesday, you’ll receive a reminder to post your photos and share your progress. You can share with everyone or restrict your personal page postings to family, friends or specific groups.
The NAP Challenge program is free, but you can also purchase a starter kit (while supplies last) that includes: a pedometer, an exercise band, tape measure, menus and ideas for setting personal goals, four recipe brochures, shopping lists and a serving size wheel.
You can also sign up for the NAP Challenge Premium Access Account (limited number available) where you’ll have access to a message board to post questions for AICR’s registered dietitians (RD) and have one lifeline phone call for a coaching session with an RD.
The New American Plate is a research-based, visual way to proportion and portion the food on your plate to lower your cancer risk and help you lose weight healthfully. This challenge will help you learn to take a look at your plate and add more delicious and healthful vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole grains and put less meat and fewer highly processed foods on your plate and in your bowls and glasses.
Interested? Sign up here.
Hello, I am wondering if it is still possible to buy a Premium Starter Pack for the New American Plate challenge.
Thank you for your attention.
Theresa Corbett
Hi Theresa,
These starter kits have all sold, but you can create your own with a pedometer, a stretch band and a tape measure. The recipe brochures that we included can be found in pdf form here:http://www.aicr.org/new-american-plate/reduce_diet_new_american_plate_brochures.html
Thanks for your interest!
I think you are right about how important it is to keep moving, especially after a major illness….I know how easy it is to give up when we don’t feel well, but if we make the effort, it really pays dividends…thanks for your great blog article!
I read on your blog that we should be taking 12,000 steps a day. As an older cancer survivor I did buy good walking shoes and a pedometer. Even with my walks I can’t walk more than 6,000 steps a day. It makes me sad .
Hi JoAnn,
You are doing good work at 6,000 steps a day. Keep in mind that AICR’s recommendation for physical activity is at least 30 minutes a day of moderate activity and with 60000 steps, you are likely meeting that goal. We are promoting 12,000 steps as the ultimate goal for weight loss, but every step you take is a step toward a healthier you. We are encouraging people to start where they are and to increase, set a modest goal. You may want to try to do 50 more steps a day for a week. Then see if you can do more as you are able. Or you may find other ways to move a little more – just give yourself some time to increase. You are well on your way.
Best,
Alice RD