Food Guide

Grain products (6 - 11 servings): 1 slice of bread; 1/2 cup of rice, pasta, or cooked cereal.

Vegetables (3 - 5 servings): 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables; 1/2 cup of other chopped or cooked vegetables.

Fruits (2 - 4 servings): 1 medium orange, apple, banana; 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit; 3/4 cup of fruit juice.

Diary products (2 - 3 servings): 1 cup of milk or yogurt; 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese.

Animal products, beans, nuts (2 - 3 servings): 2 - 3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish; 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans. One egg, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, or 1/3 cup of nuts is equivalent to 1 ounce of meat.

Many foods fit into more than one group. You can consider lentils, for instance, a bean or a vegetable serving, but not both. Some dishes include foods from more than one category. Pizza covers six food groups!

Using the USDA Food Pyramid and other more recently developed pyramids, you'll be able to find a number of ways to eat healthily that are consistent with your tastes, culture, and lifestyle. The sources given at the end of this article can lead you to more extensive information on the alternative pyramids. And if you're concerned about eating well there are companies selling dried food kits based on the USDA Food Pyramid just in case you want to stock up for a food shortage!

For a listing of different food pyramids, visit USA Food Guide or visit Canada's Food Guide