The Food Pyramid By: Molly Davis

USDA The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the food pyramid as a tool to help you make healthy choices. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the food pyramid as a tool to help you make healthy choices.

Building Blocks of The Pyramid There are six food groups on the pyramid: There are six food groups on the pyramid: Grain Grain Fruit Fruit Vegetable Vegetable Meat Meat Milk Milk Other Other

The Grain Group This group gives us carbohydrates for the energy that we need to keep our bodies running 24 hours a day. This group gives us carbohydrates for the energy that we need to keep our bodies running 24 hours a day. Eat at least six servings of this group each day. Eat at least six servings of this group each day.

What will you find in this group? Bread: white, wheat, bagels, muffins Bread: white, wheat, bagels, muffins Cereal: hot and cold Cereal: hot and cold Pasta: spaghetti, macaroni, noodles Pasta: spaghetti, macaroni, noodles Rice Rice Crackers Crackers

The Fruit Group This group of foods provide vitamin C to help our bodies heal cuts and bruises and fight infection too ! This group of foods provide vitamin C to help our bodies heal cuts and bruises and fight infection too ! It also provides vitamin A that helps prevent diseases It also provides vitamin A that helps prevent diseases

Fruit Fiber in fruit also helps us digest our food. Fiber in fruit also helps us digest our food. Eat at least two servings a day. Eat at least two servings a day. Apples, bananas, oranges, Apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, pear, kiwi, strawberries, pear, kiwi, melons, pineapple, and many more.

The Vegetable Group Vegetables give us vitamin A that keeps our skin healthy. Vegetables give us vitamin A that keeps our skin healthy. It also contains vitamin C that helps to prevent diseases. It also contains vitamin C that helps to prevent diseases.

Vegetables Vegetables come in many varieties. Vegetables come in many varieties. Broccoli, corn, peas, green beans, Broccoli, corn, peas, green beans, lettuce, celery, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and many more.

The Meat Group Meats help you build strong muscles and it also provides the iron and protein that your body needs. Meats help you build strong muscles and it also provides the iron and protein that your body needs. This group gives you the energy to get you through your busy days. This group gives you the energy to get you through your busy days.

Build muscle with these meat group foods: Beef, pork, chicken and Beef, pork, chicken and turkey, fish, peanut butter, turkey, fish, peanut butter, eggs and nuts.

The Milk Group Did you know that your body has 206 bones that are alive and growing? Did you know that your body has 206 bones that are alive and growing? The milk group helps keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy because they provide calcium. The milk group helps keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy because they provide calcium. Calcium strengthens bones that are growing. Calcium strengthens bones that are growing.

Milk Products Try some of these products: Try some of these products: Milk, yogurt, cheese, Milk, yogurt, cheese, pudding, ice cream, cottage cheese and many more!

The Other Group This category is most commonly known as the fats, oils, and junk food. This category is most commonly known as the fats, oils, and junk food. As long as you eat mostly meals and snacks from the five food groups, a few “others” are okay every day. As long as you eat mostly meals and snacks from the five food groups, a few “others” are okay every day.

Junk Food This group contains: This group contains: Potato chips, donuts, cakes, cookies, Potato chips, donuts, cakes, cookies, candy, soft drinks, and other salty snacks.

How much should you eat? 6 Grain Group servings 6 Grain Group servings 2 Servings from the Fruit Group 2 Servings from the Fruit Group 3 Vegetable Group servings 3 Vegetable Group servings 2 Meat Group servings 2 Meat Group servings 3 Servings from the Milk Group 3 Servings from the Milk Group

Where do you find more info? You can find nutritional information all over the internet. You can find nutritional information all over the internet. Go to Go to explorations.org/kids

Stay healthy and happy! Follow the instructions in these slides Follow the instructions in these slides to live a happy and healthy life !