FDA Food Pyramid—Are you eating healthy?

April 3, 5:17 AMSoutheast MI Home & Living ExaminerJackie DiGiovanni

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Food Pyramid for Pre-Schoolers from the US Department of Agriculture 

Do you think you are eating a healthy diet? Want to check out your assumptions? The US Department of Agriculture website has extensive information and ideas for better, more nutritious living. Try the interactive tools to see menu planning ideas and tips for people of all ages and sizes.There are detailed and easy-to-read facts about making good food choices. Here is what they say about vegetables:

What foods are in the vegetable group?

Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the vegetable group. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut-up, or mashed. Vegetables are organized into five subgroups, based on their nutrient content. Some commonly eaten vegetables in each subgroup are:  

Dark green vegetables

• bok choy
• broccoli
• collard greens
• dark green leafy lettuce
• kale
• mesclun
• mustard greens
• romaine lettuce
• spinach                                              
• turnip greens
• watercress

Orange vegetables

• acorn squash
• butternut squash
• carrots
• hubbard squash
• pumpkin
• sweetpotatoes

Dry beans and peas

• black beans
• black-eyed peas
• garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• kidney beans
• lentils
• lima beans (mature)
• navy beans
• pinto beans
• soy beans
• split peas
• tofu (bean curd made from soybeans)
• white beans

Starchy vegetables

• corn
• green peas
• lima beans (green)
• potatoes 

Photo credit: Melissa Doroquez

Other vegetables

• artichokes
• asparagus
• bean sprouts
• beets
• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• celery
• cucumbers
• eggplant
• green beans
• green or red peppers
• iceberg (head) lettuce
• mushrooms
• okra
• onions
• parsnips
• tomatoes
• tomato juice
• vegetable juice
• turnips
• wax beans
• zucchini 

Photo credit: Dominic Alves

Click on Delmonte.com, for a collection of videos about healthy eating guidelines including:

The Healthy Pantry
The best place to start thinking about nutrition is in your own kitchen. See how simple it is to stock your own healthy pantry.

Understanding the New Food Pyramid
Laura Molseed, MS, RD, LDN, explains how the Food Pyramid has changed to promote healthier eating habits.

Science Behind What We Eat
Get the facts about the food we eat and how it affects our bodies. Learn how you can make smart choices to be a little healthier and happier.
 

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