The food pyramid is one of the most widely used and balanced manner of planning your meals. Recommended by physicians and experts all over the globe, the food pyramid is comprised of five basic food groups: Carbohydrates, Meats, Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables, and Fats and sweets.
Carbohydrates:
As per the food pyramid, carbohydrates constitute the bulk of all your meals. These include whole grains, cereal, whole wheat bread, rice, oats and pasta. The pyramid advocates no more than 11 servings of these foods to provide your body with the energy and the vitality it needs.
Fruits and Vegetables:
To avail of the optimal nutritional benefits this category of food has to offer, the Food Pyramid advises that you consume at least 4 helpings of fruit, and 5 servings of vegetables every day.
Dairy:
This category includes milk, yogurt and cheese – preferably the low-fat alternatives. Diary products play a vital role in fortifying your body with calcium, protein, phosphorus and Vitamin A and need a minimum of 2 or 3 servings to fulfill your daily requirements.
Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts:
While all these foods are great sources of protein, iron and zinc, they can also be very high in cholesterol and saturated fats. Thus, the food pyramid advises a maximum of 2 or 3 servings to keep up with your body’s protein requirements, while also keeping the bad fat and cholesterol under check. Vegetarian diets may also include meat substitutes like tofu in this food category and maintain the same recommended guidelines.
Fats and sweets:
Given their high calorific content, while also the gamut of health hazards this food group causes, the pyramid insists that you keep your consumption of these foods to the bare minimum.
The food pyramid has gained much popularity with fitness enthusiasts and nutritionists alike, simply because it recommends a controlled manner of consumption instead of going overboard with a few kinds of foods. This helps keep disease and illness at bay, while also aiding your body to fight a winning war against age – keeping you younger and healthier, well into your older years!
