What constitutes a serving for the food groups in the Food Guide Pyramid?
The Food Guide Pyramid is a guideline for all Americans over the age of two to follow a well balanced diet. • Carbohydrates, we need 6-11 servings a day. One serving: ½ cup cooked pasta, 1/3 cup cooked rice, 4 crackers, 1 slice of bread, or ½ bagel. • Fruits and vegetables, we need at least 5 a day. One serving of vegetables is ½ cup of cooked vegetables or 1cup raw vegetables. One serving of fruit is 15 grapes, ¼ cantaloupe, 1 banana, ½ cup applesauce, ½ fruit cocktail. • Milk, we need 2-4 servings a day. One serving is 1cup milk or yogurt, 1 ½ oz. cheese or ½ cup cottage cheese. • Protein, we need 2-3 servings a day of meat, poultry, fish, nuts, or eggs a day. One serving is 3 ounces for all meats, which is equivalent to the size of a deck of cards. • Fat, sugar and alcohol are to be eaten sparingly. One tablespoon of fat is one serving, which includes oils, salad dressings, butter or margarine.
