Transcript The Food Pyramid - Erie Community College

The Food Pyramid
Title 3 interdisciplinary course materials for
EN020/021/023/031/132 (Nutrition)
Fall 2008
Created by E. Phufas
What it is
 The Food Pyramid is the outline of what to eat every day. It calls for
eating a range of food from each layer and different amounts.
The different layers are the:
 Grain Group,
 the Fruit Group,
 the Vegetable Group,
 the Meat Group,
 the Milk Group
 and Others
Each group has different amounts of food that needs to be eaten. By
following the Food Pyramid you will be eating a well rounded diet.
The Grain Group
Grain Group foods give us
carbohydrates for the energy
we need to play, learn, sleep
and keep our bodies running 24
hours a day!
Foods in this group come from
many different grain plants:
wheat, oats, rye, barley and
rice. "Whole-grains" like whole
wheat bread, also provide fiber
and other substances that help
keep us healthy. Fiber helps us
digest our food.
Eat at least 6 servings from
this group each day:
 bread: white, wheat, rye,
buns, rolls, muffins, bagels
 cereals: hot and cold rice:
all kinds pasta: spaghetti,
macaroni, noodles
 tortillas
 crackers
 pancakes
The Vegetable Group
 Is it easier to see in the dark
or daylight? Most people it’s
easer in the daylight. Foods
in the vegetable group give
us the vitamin A that helps
us see in the dark and keeps
our skin healthy
Eat at least 3 servings from the
Vegetable Group
broccoli • cauliflower • corn • peas •
green beans • lettuce • mushrooms •
celery • carrots • white potatoes and
sweet potatoes • juices made from
vegetables: tomato, carrot
 Veggies also provide vitamin
C fiber and substances
called photochemicals that
help prevent diseases. Fiber
also helps us digest our
food. Vegetables com in
many varieties.
The Fruit Group
Fruit Group foods provide vitamin C to help our bodies heal cuts and bruises
and fight infection too! Foods in this group also provide vitamin A, fiber
and substances called "photochemical“ that help prevent diseases. Fiber
in fruit also helps us digest our food.
Eat at least 2 servings of the foods in this group:
 apples • oranges • bananas • pears • grapes
 • kiwi • berries: strawberries, blueberries,
 raspberries • melons: watermelon,
 cantaloupe, honeydew • pineapple • papaya
The Milk Group
Did you know your body has 206 bones that are alive and growing? We all
have 32 permanent teeth! Milk group foods keep your bones and teeth
strong and healthy because they provide calcium and eight other important
nutrients, including protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, and B vitamins.
Calcium helps:
 strengthen bones, which are growing
 stronger and longer
 stop bleeding if you get cut or bruised
 muscles contract and relax
Try having 3 servings of some of these foods in the Milk Group:
 milk - flavored milk like strawberry, banana, chocolate
 yogurt
 cheese: string, cheddar, American and others
 pudding
 cottage cheese • frozen yogurt • ice cream
The Meat Group
Stand up and take a step. You just
used 54 muscles! Your
muscles hold your bones
together and make them move.
Meat Group foods help build
strong muscles. Foods in this
group provide protein and iron.
Iron is important because it:
 carries oxygen to all parts of
your body
 helps prevent infections and
anemia that can make you feel
tired
 helps your body make energy
to get you through busy days
Build muscles by eating
servings of these Meat
Group Foods:
 beef • pork • chicken and
turkey • fish •
 dried beans and peas • peanut
butter •
 eggs • nuts
The Other Group
The "Others" category includes
foods such as cakes, cookies,
candy, soft drinks, fruit drinks,
potato chips and donuts.
As long as you eat mostly meals
and snacks from the Five Food
Groups, a few "Others" foods
are acceptable every day
Foods in the "Others" category:
 fats • oils • spreads • candy •
 cookies • cakes • chips and
other salty snacks •
condiments • soft drinks •
coffee • tea