The food pyramid is the standard for a healthy diet, and is learned from elementary school.
Children are instructed to eat from the different food groups to have a balanced, healthy diet.
However, the food pyramid is a little different from the one many remember from their own health classes.
It's still important to have a balanced, healthy diet based on the food pyramid, but with the new pyramid, what does that mean for the refrigerator? Physical Activity is now the first section of the food pyramid.
The logo depicts a figure climbing a set of stairs on the pyramid.
It is recommended that the average person gets about 30 minutes of daily activity to be healthy.
Adding physical activity to the food pyramid underscores its importance in a healthy diet for the average person.
Grains are the first food section.
It is recommended that the average person eat about six ounces of grains each day, and at least half of those should be whole grains.
Usually people have no trouble meeting their grain requirements for a healthy diet, but they don't eat enough whole grains.
To help consume more whole grains, try having your sandwich on whole-grain bread at lunch, or add barley to your vegetable stew.
Vegetables are more prominent in the new food pyramid.
The average person should eat 2-3 cups of vegetables each day.
Vegetables are divided into five sub-groups.
Dark green vegetables are things like broccoli, romaine lettuce, and spinach.
Orange vegetables consist of things like pumpkin, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Dry beans and peas are things like black beans, split peas, and tofu.
The starchy vegetable category is made up of vegetables like corn, green beans, and potatoes.
And finally, "other" vegetables are things like cauliflower, celery, and tomatoes.
Fruits also carry more weight in a healthy diet.
The average person should eat about two cups of fruits each day, and you have a lot of variety available in this section.
The fruit you eat can be any fruit, and it can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried, whole, cut, or even pureed, as long as it's 100% fruit.
Even 100% fruit juice counts toward your daily intake of fruit.
Milk is the next section in the food pyramid, and while liquid milk and many foods made from milk make up this category, it's important to note that foods made from milk that have little or no calcium, such as cream, butter, and cheese, are not part of the daily intake of milk.
The average person should have three cups of milk or foods made from milk.
Most milk choices should be low-fat or fat-free.
Meat and beans are the last section to evaluate a healthy diet.
This section consists of any foods made from meat, fish, poultry, dry beans or peas, nuts, eggs, and seeds.
Remember: dry beans and peas are considered part of this group, as well as part of the vegetable group.
You should eat about five ounces of meat and beans each day.
Just as with your milk choices, try to choose lean or low-fat meat for your diet.
Also, fish, nuts, and seeds contain healthy oils, so they should be the meat of preference for your healthy diet.
While following the nutrition set down by the food pyramid is good, it may need to be adjusted a bit for individuals to be a healthy diet for them.
Most diets and healthy eating plans now tailor daily food intake for the individual, taking specific age, weight, etc.
, into consideration, so you should, as well.
The amounts stated here are generalities based on an average person who gets 30 minutes or less of moderate physical activity.
The new food pyramid may be a little different from the one you knew growing up, but by following the guidelines set by the food pyramid and tailoring them to your individual body and nutrition needs, you'll be well on your way to conquering the food pyramid with a healthy diet.
Children are instructed to eat from the different food groups to have a balanced, healthy diet.
However, the food pyramid is a little different from the one many remember from their own health classes.
It's still important to have a balanced, healthy diet based on the food pyramid, but with the new pyramid, what does that mean for the refrigerator? Physical Activity is now the first section of the food pyramid.
The logo depicts a figure climbing a set of stairs on the pyramid.
It is recommended that the average person gets about 30 minutes of daily activity to be healthy.
Adding physical activity to the food pyramid underscores its importance in a healthy diet for the average person.
Grains are the first food section.
It is recommended that the average person eat about six ounces of grains each day, and at least half of those should be whole grains.
Usually people have no trouble meeting their grain requirements for a healthy diet, but they don't eat enough whole grains.
To help consume more whole grains, try having your sandwich on whole-grain bread at lunch, or add barley to your vegetable stew.
Vegetables are more prominent in the new food pyramid.
The average person should eat 2-3 cups of vegetables each day.
Vegetables are divided into five sub-groups.
Dark green vegetables are things like broccoli, romaine lettuce, and spinach.
Orange vegetables consist of things like pumpkin, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Dry beans and peas are things like black beans, split peas, and tofu.
The starchy vegetable category is made up of vegetables like corn, green beans, and potatoes.
And finally, "other" vegetables are things like cauliflower, celery, and tomatoes.
Fruits also carry more weight in a healthy diet.
The average person should eat about two cups of fruits each day, and you have a lot of variety available in this section.
The fruit you eat can be any fruit, and it can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried, whole, cut, or even pureed, as long as it's 100% fruit.
Even 100% fruit juice counts toward your daily intake of fruit.
Milk is the next section in the food pyramid, and while liquid milk and many foods made from milk make up this category, it's important to note that foods made from milk that have little or no calcium, such as cream, butter, and cheese, are not part of the daily intake of milk.
The average person should have three cups of milk or foods made from milk.
Most milk choices should be low-fat or fat-free.
Meat and beans are the last section to evaluate a healthy diet.
This section consists of any foods made from meat, fish, poultry, dry beans or peas, nuts, eggs, and seeds.
Remember: dry beans and peas are considered part of this group, as well as part of the vegetable group.
You should eat about five ounces of meat and beans each day.
Just as with your milk choices, try to choose lean or low-fat meat for your diet.
Also, fish, nuts, and seeds contain healthy oils, so they should be the meat of preference for your healthy diet.
While following the nutrition set down by the food pyramid is good, it may need to be adjusted a bit for individuals to be a healthy diet for them.
Most diets and healthy eating plans now tailor daily food intake for the individual, taking specific age, weight, etc.
, into consideration, so you should, as well.
The amounts stated here are generalities based on an average person who gets 30 minutes or less of moderate physical activity.
The new food pyramid may be a little different from the one you knew growing up, but by following the guidelines set by the food pyramid and tailoring them to your individual body and nutrition needs, you'll be well on your way to conquering the food pyramid with a healthy diet.