Food Pyramid



Vocabulary


carbohydrates

Definition: Any of a large group of compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen found in
food that give energy

Context: Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for your body.

diet

Definition: The foods that a person, animal, or community usually eats

Context: Your diet should include healthful foods in the recommended daily amounts.

energy

Definition: The strength and vitality needed to stay active

Context: Eat well to gain energy to grow, think and study, and walk and run and play.

nutrients

Definition: A substance essential for life and growth

Context: Food provides the nutrients people need to function and live healthfully.

protein

Definition: Any of a group of organic compounds forming part of body tissues and making up and
important part of the diet

Context: Foods from the meat group provide protein.

serving

Definition: A quantity of food suitable for one person

Context: One slice of bread is a serving.




Video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zt-KYP_4vg&feature=related


Watch the video and fill in the table:

(food group, products, nutrients)

Grains







Vegetables







Fruit







Milk, yogurt and cheese







Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dried Beans, Eggs and Nuts












                                               Text

Before reading:

Find words which mean the following in the text:

foodstuff used in baking

uncooked

meat of chickens, ducks or geese

possible to see

carefully


Bread, Grain, Cereal and Pasta

At the base of the food pyramid, you will see the group that contains breads, grains, cereals and
pastas. These foods provide complex carbohydrates, which are an important source of energy,
especially for a low-fat meal plan. You can make many low-fat choices from foods in this group. You
will need 6 to 11 servings of these foods in a day. One serving of this group can be:

•        1 slice of bread

•        1/2 cup of rice, cooked cereal or pasta

•        1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal


Try to eat whole-grain breads, cereal and pasta for most of your servings from this group.
Whole-grain foods (which are made with whole wheat flour) are less processed and contain more
valuable vitamins, minerals and fiber than foods made with white flour.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients. Many are excellent sources of vitamin A, vitamin C,
folate or potassium. They are low in fat and sodium and high in fiber. The Food Pyramid suggests 3
to 5 servings of vegetables each day. One serving of vegetables can be:

•        1 cup of raw leafy vegetables

•        1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or raw

•        3/4 cup of vegetable juice

The Food Pyramid suggests 2 to 4 servings of fruit each day. One serving of fruit can be:

•        One medium apple, orange or banana

•        1/2 cup of chopped, cooked or canned fruit

•        3/4 cup of fruit juice

Beans, Eggs, Lean Meat and Fish

Meat, poultry and fish supply protein, iron and zinc. Non-meat foods such as dried peas and beans
also provide many of these nutrients. The Food Pyramid suggests 2 to 3 servings of cooked meat,
fish or poultry. Each serving should be between 2 and 3 ounces. The following foods count as one
ounce of meat:

•        One egg

•        2 tablespoons of peanut butter

•        1/2 cup cooked dry beans

•        1/3 cup of nuts

Remove skin from poultry and visible fat on meat. Avoid frying these foods.


Dairy Products

Products made with milk provide protein and vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. The Food
Pyramid suggests 2 to 3 servings each day. If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, a teenager or a
young adult age 24 or under, try to have 3 servings. Most other people should have 2 servings
daily. Interestingly, cottage cheese is lower in calcium that most other cheeses - one cup counts
as only 1/2 serving of milk. Go easy on high-fat cheese and ice cream. Choose non-fat milk and
yogurt and cheeses made from skim milk because they are lowest in fat.


Fats and Sweets

A food pyramid's tip is the smallest part, so the fats and sweets in the top of the Food Pyramid
should comprise the smallest percentage of your daily diet. The foods at the top of the food
pyramid should be eaten sparingly as they provide calories but not much in the way of nutrition.
These foods include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies
and sweet desserts.



True or false:

1.     Whole-grain foods are less processed and more healthy.

2.     Fruits and vegetables are high in fat and low in fiber.

3.     Meat and fish should always be fried.

4.     Fats and sweets should be the biggest percentage of your daily diet.

Find the following in the text:

-         4 dairy products

-         3 names of fruits

-         3 types of fat