New Food Guide Pyramid Shows Healthy Eating
The food guide pyramid is a guideline to help you eat a healthy diet, including a variety of foods and the right amount of
calories and fat. This guide to selecting foods has been prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) .
The food pyramid is divided into six colored bands representing the five food groups plus oils.
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Food Guide Pyramid
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Orange represents grains. Eat six ounces of grains every day. Make half the grains consumed each day whole grains. Whole-grain foods include oatmeal,
whole-wheat flour, whole cornmeal, brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Check the food label on processed foods – the words “whole”
or “whole grain” should be listed before the specific grain in the product.
Green represents vegetables. Vary your vegetables – choose a variety, including dark green- and orange-colored kinds, legumes (peas and beans), starchy
vegetables and other types.
Red represents fruits. Focus on fruits. Any fruit or 100 percent fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen,
or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.
Yellow represents oils. Know the limits on fats, sugars, and salt (sodium). Make most of your fat sources from fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. Limit
solid fats like butter, stick margarine, shortening, and lard, as well as foods that contain these.
Blue represents milk. Get your calcium-rich foods. Milk and milk products contain calcium and vitamin D, both important ingredients in building
and maintaining bone tissue.
Purple represents meat and beans. Go lean on protein. Choose low fat or lean meats and poultry. Vary your protein routine - choose more fish, nuts, seeds,
peas, and beans.
Activity is also represented on the pyramid by the steps and the person climbing them, as a reminder of the importance of
daily physical activity.
You can learn more information about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 and identify the appropriate dietary recommendations
for your age, sex, and physical activity level, by visiting the web sites for the Food Pyramid (
www.mypyramid.gov) and 2005 Dietary Guidelines (
www.usda.gov/cnpp/DG2005/).
Always consult your physician regarding your healthy diet and exercise requirements.
