AMERICAN NICARAGUAN SCHOOL

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Health Information for Parents

 

January 2005

 

What the Food Pyramid is?

The Food Pyramid is a tool to help you choose the right amounts of the various food groups.  A healthy diet includes foods from each of these groups: 

 

Fats, Oils and Sweets

Milk

Meat, Meat Substitute Other Proteins

Vegetables

Fruits

Breads, Grains and Other Starches

 

Fats, Oils and Sweets

This group contains things like potato chips, candy and fried food.  They contain  a lot of fat or sugar.  They aren’t as nutritious as vegetables or grains, you shouldn’t eat these foods every day. Examples: Milk chocolate, candy bar, chocolate, cookes.

 

Milk

Milk is also the best source of calcium.  Calcium helps your bones and teeth to stay strong as you grow. You need two or three servings of milk per day.  Examples: all types of milk, yogurt.

 

Meat, Meat Substitutes and Other Proteins

These foods also contain a lot of protein. You need two or three servings from this group every day.  Examples: beef, chicken, turkey and fish.  It also includes eggs, cheese, and some kinds of beans and nuts.

 

Vegetables

Fruits and veggies are also made up of carbohydrates, have plenty of vitamins and minerals.  You need three to five servings per day. Examples:  Carrot, green beans, salad greens.

 

Fruits

Fruits have more carbs that vegetables.  You need about two to four servings of fruit per day.  Examples:  Apple, cherries, bananas, tangerines.

 

Breads, Grains and Other Starches

These foods contains mostly carbohydrates. You need six to eight servings of these foods per day.  Examples: bread, spaghetti, grains, corn, rye, oats.