The Food Pyramid: The Basics

If you are looking to start a healthy eating plan for you and your family, consider using the food pyramid. It has recently been revised and is easy to understand., and if you follow the food pyramid you will have a good basic foundation of proper nutrition.

The Food Guide Pyramid was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the new updated version can be found at MyPyramid.gov. It uses color coding to determine the different types of food that are recommended for you to eat. The new pyramid can also be customized to your own dietary needs. As no two people are alike, one size doesn’t necessarily fit all.

Now let’s have a look at the different pyramid sections.

1.Grains: Try to eat about three servings of whole grain every day, which should amount to about three ounces. Whole grains include all three parts of the grain – bran, endosperm and the seed. Also, make sure that “whole” comes before grain on the label.

2.Vegetables: You might have to get creative, but do try to eat six servings of vegetables a day. There are a whole host of different vegetables you can try for variety and flavour. Green, leafy vegetables will provide you with more minerals and vitamins like A, B and E.

3.Fruits: Try and have three servings of fruit each day. Fruit can be eaten fresh or in juice form, but just remember that juice won’t keep you full or stop you getting hungry. Eating fresh fruit will also provide you with more fiber and vitamin C, as well as tasting better.

4.Milk and Dairy: Milk is fortified with vitamin D as well as providing calcium, which helps to make your bones strong and also keeps osteoporosis at bay. Low fat or fat free is best with milk, cheese and yogurt products. For those of you who are lactose intolerant, substitutes like Lact-aid are available for you to get your calcium.

5.Meat: Protein is important for building muscle tissue and repairing organs at the cellular level. Try and limit the amount of red meat that you eat and choose lean cuts of chicken and pork.

6.Oils: Try to consume as little as possible, but when you do, stick with unsaturated fats like vegetable or olive oil.

If you know what you are eating, and what you need to eat, it is the start of a better life. If you mix in some exercise with your new diet you will have a plan for a long life.