A Guide to Eating Healthy With the Food Pyramid

In order to stay healthy, you have to eat a variety of nutritious foods every day. It's not that easy to eat healthy though, and that's where the Food Guide Pyramid can help you out!

Food Pyramid - The Pieces of the Puzzle

The Food Guide Pyramid is an easy way to learn about healthy eating. Just think of it as a puzzle of nutrients that your body needs every day, and the five major food groups are the puzzle pieces.
  • Milk (3-4 servings) - Foods include milk, yogurt and cheese. The key ingredient is calcium, which builds strong teeth and bones.
  • Fruits (2-4 servings) - Fruits are excellent sources of vitamin C, which heals cuts and keeps skin healthy, and fiber, which helps your digestion. So stock up on fruits - fresh fruit, dried fruit, frozen fruit, canned fruit... they're all good!
  • Vegetables (3-5 servings) - Veggies are also great sources of fiber and vitamin A. Just remember that darker colored vegetables, like carrots and broccoli, have more nutrients.
  • Meat (2-3 servings) - Foods include meat (beef, chicken, turkey, fish, pork but not bacon), beans and nuts. This group provides iron and protein, which gives you strong muscles.
  • Grains (6-11 servings) - This food group gives you energy because it contains carbohydrates. Includes breads, cereals, rice and pasta.
  • Food Pyramid - The Updated Guide

    The Food Guide Pyramid is updated every five years. When it was last updated in January 2005, the biggest change was to increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, grains and milk.
  • Eat 2 cups of fruit a day.
  • Eat 2 1/2 cups of veggies a day.
  • Eat 3 or more ounces of whole-grain products a day.
  • Drink 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk a day.

  • The updated Guide now includes exercise guidelines that recommend you work out for at least 30 minutes a day. But, it also allows you to eat sweets such as chocolate and ice cream, as long as you get enough nutrient-rich foods in your meals!

    Food Pyramid - Did U Know?

  • About 80% of Americans are aware of the Food Guide Pyramid, but only 8% follow its recommendations.
  • Junk food, like chips, aren't included in the food groups, which is why schools have removed them from their vending machines.
  • Related Stories:

  • Becoming a Teen Vegetarian
  • Quick and Healthy Lunch Ideas
  • The Good and Bad Buzz on Caffeine
  • Quiz! How Healthy Are You?
  • More Healthy Eating Tips!
  • Read more: Health
    Shaun_feature At just 23 years old, snowboarder Shaun White is just getting started. He already holds tons of accolades in snowboarding and skateboarding, and he’s got a video game all of his own. Shaun’s insane board skills – not to mention his bright-red hair – make him one of the most recognizable athletes of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
    Romanticmoviestwilight-feature Check out where Vanessa Hudgens, some indie rock kids and a tortured, love-sick vampire sit on Kidzworld's list of Top 10 Romantic Movies.

    Read more in The Boards

    Check out the Dear Dish-It Section of the boards!
    Home | Profiles | Chat | Boards | Contests | Games | Entertainment | Advice | Sports | School Stuff | Toys | Online Games | Quizzes
    Help | Corporate | Safety | Privacy | Archives | Link to Us | Parents & Teachers | Sitemap | Español | © Kidzworld.com, Inc., 2000-2009