The Food Pyramid, in basic terms!

Dairy

Dairy is a key part of our pyramid

How much do I need? 3 Cups a day

Why do I need dairy? We need to get our calcium to keep our bones strong and growing!

Tips:1.Choose lowfat or fat free milk products2.Read the label to see how much calcium is in the product

Meats and BeansWhat are some ideas of meats we can have? Turkey, steak, chicken and eggs

How much do I need a day? 5 ounces

Why do I need meats and beans? Proteins function as building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. They are also building blocks for enzymes, hormones, and vitamins.

Fruits

Any fruit or 100% juice counts as a fruit!

How much do I need a day? 1 ½ cup

Why do we need fruit? Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for type 2 diabetes.

GrainsWhy are they important? Grains contain fiber! The fiber helps my body fight against heart disease!!

How much do I need a day? 3 ounces daily

What can I have daily? Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grain products.

Oils and SweetsFact: Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature, like the vegetable oils used in cooking. Oils come from many different plants and from fish.

How much do I need a day? 5 teaspoons daily

Why are they important? Our oils and sweets allow us to have our fatty acids included in our daily diet. Americans don’t need this addition because it is already included in our diet mostly!

VeggiesFact: Any veggie or 100% veggie juice is counted as this food group!

How much do I need a day? 2 ½ cups daily

Why are they important? If you eat your veggies daily you have a lower risk of chronic diseases later on in life.