With the pressing concern of overweight, obesity and other nutritional inadequacies among the general United States population and college students in particular, devising solutions to combat these problems is warranted. This investigation researched undergraduate students' perceptions of the United States Department of Agriculture's MyPlate icon and website. The MyPlate icon and website are the government's current visual for healthy eating and its messages are hoped to positively impact eating behaviors. The goal of this study was to establish recommendations for MyPlate's effective use in the undergraduate population and guidelines for teaching its principles in introductory nutrition classes and other campus venues. The investigation employed mixed methods using an online survey and focus groups. Undergraduate students at the University of Delaware representing nutrition majors, students enrolled in an introductory nutrition course, and the general undergraduate population completed a 30 question online survey. The survey included questions about their demographics, prior exposure to the MyPlate icon and www.ChooseMyPlate.gov website and opinions on its appeal. Data were analyzed for 564 students. Overall, the majority of respondents preferred MyPlate to the former icon, MyPyramid. Students' views of the icon and site were mixed. Seeing the icon did not inspire students to view the site. Respondents were mostly favorable about the website. Twenty-seven students, all of whom were currently enrolled in NTDT200, participated in two focus groups. Responses were audio taped and systematically analyzed for themes related to students' perceptions of the icon and site and their recommendations for improvement and teaching. One of the recommendations that became apparent from the focus group analysis was that MyPlate and especially its website including the SuperTracker tool could be introduced in Freshmen First Year Experience (FYE) classes and introductory nutrition classes. Focus group participants felt MyPlate appears juvenile, but when they were exposed to the information and tools available on the accompanying website, they expressed that the information was valuable and applicable to them. Guidelines for teaching MyPlate among undergraduate students emerged from this work and included teaching it in context by explaining the history of the evolution of MyPyramid to MyPlate. Other guidelines focused on the importance of teaching MyPlate in-depth and including assignments to help students personalize its information. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]