By of BUMED Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NWSB) -- If you think
you're eating a balanced, nutritious diet by choosing foods from
each of the four food groups, you're wrong. In 1992, the United
States Food and Drug Administration (USDA) and the Department of
Health and Human Services decided the four food groups were
not enough and created the "food pyramid."
In the pyramid, foods we should eat more often are placed at the base, and those we should eat less frequently are at the top.
Cereal, rice and pasta are at the
bottom of the pyramid. USDA recommends six to 11 servings of
these foods daily. The pyramid's next level recommends two to
four servings of fruits and three to five servings of vegetables.
The third level includes two to three servings of milk, yogurt
and cheese and two to three servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry
beans, eggs and nuts. Fats, oils and
sweets are on top of the pyramid and should be eaten sparingly.
What constitutes a serving?
In the bread group, one serving equals one slice of bread, one ounce of ready-to-eat cereal or one-half cup cooked cereal, rice or pasta.
A serving of vegetables is one cup of raw leafy greens, three-quarters cup vegetable juice, or one-half cup of other vegetables chopped.
A serving of fruits is one medium apple, banana or orange; one melon wedge; one-half cup of chopped fruits or berries or three-quarters cup fruit juice.
A serving from the milk group includes a cup of milk or yogurt or 1 1/2 ounces of cheese. A serving from the meat category equals two to three ounces of cooked, lean meat, poultry or fish; one egg; one- half cup cooked beans or two tablespoons of seed or nuts.
"The majority of your plate should contain rice, pasta, potatoes, bread or other grains, accompanied by fruits and vegetables," said LT Leslie Cox, dietitian at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. "Does meat cover the majority of your plate? If so, it is time to review the food guide pyramid."
Navy Wire Service "B" story NWSB484, dated July 7, 1997.
-USN-
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