FOOD GROUPS

FOOD GROUPS

Food Groups• What is a food group?– It is a category of foods that contain similar

nutrients.

•What are the different food groups?• Grains• Vegetables• Fruits• Milk• Meats and Beans• Oils

• But how do I know how much I should eat from each food group?– Each group has a different recommended serving

size depending on your age, size, sex, and level of physical activity.

•Why is eating from different groups good for me?• It supplies your body with all the nutrients

and energy that allow you to grow, do everyday activities, and help make your body healthy.

And a healthier body means a beautiful you.

So who doesn’t want to be healthy?

Let’s get started…

Grains

• You should eat at least 3 oz of grains a day– Examples: Whole-grain breads, crackers, rice,

pasta

•Grains are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates.

•They also supply the body with fiber, iron, and vitamin B.

Grains Tips

There are two types of grains: whole-grains and refined grains.

Look for whole-grains, because they have not been milled and have natural fiber, iron, and B

vitamins.

Refined grains generally have these essential components put back in after the milling process.

Vegetables• You should consume about 2 and a 1/2 cups

of vegetables each day– Ex: Broccoli, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes,

and peas• They are low in fat and calories, too.• Vegetables are good sources of vitamins A

and C, along with minerals also.

Vegetables TipsThere are 5 subgroups in the vegetables group.

They include:Dark green vegetables

Orange vegetablesDry beans and peasStarchy vegetables

Other

Try to include vegetables from each subgroup, such as spinach as a dark green vegetable, pinto beans from dry

beans and peas, and celery from other.

Fruits• You need about 2 cups of

fruits everyday– Ex: Strawberries, bananas,

oranges, and pomegranates• Like vegetables, fruits are low

in fat and are good sources of vitamins A and C. Fruits are also excellent sources of potassium and carbohydrates.

Fruit Tips

Remember, not every product that has “fruit” in it counts as a serving of fruit.

So, you should look for 100% fruit juices instead of sugar water with artificial fruit flavoring in

it.

MILK • You need to consume three cups a day of milk, yogurt, or other dairy products

• These foods are good sources of calcium and protein

• There are also low fat alternatives to usual milk that help lower fat intake

• There are also many other lactose free products for those who choose not to drink milk, but still need their calcium.

Meats and Beans• You need to consume at least 5 ½

oz everyday from the food group that includes meat, poultry, eggs, fish beans, peas, nuts and seeds.

• These foods are good sources of vitamin B, iron and zinc.

• It is good to grill, broil, or bake foods instead of frying them

Oil!• Most teens need to consume 5

teaspoons of oil per day of oils• Oils are found in nuts, fish,

cooking oil and salad dressings

• Oils provide fatty acids and vitamin E

• Oils tend to raise “bad” cholesterol levels in the blood and increase the risk for heart disease.

General

A good rule of thumb for the food groups is to have a variety of colors on your plate during a

meal.

QuestionsGrains are great sources of _______?a. Fiber b. Iron c. Calciumd. All of the above e. Only (a) and (b)

How much food should you eat from the meats and beans food group?

b. 5 ½ oz b. 3 oz c. 2 oz d. 4 oz

When comparing foods with Vitamins A and C, cold is to chilly, as ____ is to ______.

c. Vegetables: meats and beans b. Oil: fruitsc. Milk: vegetables d. Vegetables: fruits

WORKS CITED• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_

Rsxv2CE8SXU/S1OYqIkdQGI/AAAAAAAAAzc/sge2QLXZBXo/s400/olive_oil.jpg (oil picture)

• http://www.food-faq.net/food/food-pyramid1.jpg (food pyramid)• Clip ArtHealth and Wellness. Glencoe, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2008.

Print.http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/330178450_82869b66d6_b.jpg

Picture of Breadhttp://groovyvegetarian.com/files/2007/11/broccoli.jpg Picture of

Broccoli