Lesson2 FGP
Lesson2 FGP
Introduction
The Food Guide Pyramid is a tool designed to promote the concepts of variety, moderation and
balance in the diet. Variety means eating foods from all food groups, moderation means limiting
the amount of high sugar or high fat foods, and balance means eating the number of servings
recommended according to your individual calorie needs. The Food Guide Pyramid is based on
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is also designed to provide the recommended dietary
allowances for calories, fiber and nutrients.
There are six food groups in the pyramid: breads, cereal, rice, pasta; vegetables; fruits; milk,
yogurt, cheese; meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts; and fats, oils and sweets. Five major
groups are needed daily. We just need a little bit of the last group to round out our meals. Foods
in the sixth group should be eaten sparingly. No one food group is more important than another.
There are no "good" foods or "bad" foods. However, it is important to balance the high fat or
high sugar foods with low fat or low sugar foods over a period of one or two days. Foods that
have three or less grams of fat per 100 calories are considered low in fat.
Some of the best buys in the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group are:
Less Expensive More Expensive
Enriched white rice, brown rice Instant rice, seasoned rice, wild rice
Enriched macaroni, noodles and spaghetti Pasta in special shapes (curls, shells)
Enriched white or whole-grain bread Specialty breads
Saltine crackers Specialty crackers
Cornbread or muffins made from scratch Mixes
Cornbread, muffin or biscuit mix Ready-to-eat muffins, biscuits
Enriched flour Cake flour
Other cost-saving tips for the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group include:
Buy ready-to-eat cereals in large boxes or bags instead of single serving boxes.
Buy day-old bread and shop at bread outlets.
Use stale bread for toast, casseroles, French toast, grilled sandwiches, bread pudding and
stuffing.
Compare bread prices by weight, not by size of the package. A large loaf of bread may
contain a lot of air.
Buy store brands or generic bread products. These are usually cheaper than name brands.
Make your own baking mixes for cornbread, biscuits and muffins. These are usually
cheaper than ready-made mixes.
Use foods in the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group in casseroles to stretch your food
dollar.
Make sure to read the labels on these products, so you will know what you are buying.
Some terms you may find on the labels include:
Whole-grain: These are made from whole kernels of grain. These are a good source of
fiber. It is recommended that we eat at least three servings of whole-grain foods each day,
such as whole-grain breads and cereals, brown rice and whole-grain pastas.
Enriched: Vitamins and iron are lost when grain is milled to make white flour or meal.
Enriched flour or meal has vitamins and iron added during processing. However, fiber
lost during milling is not added back.
Fortified: Many breakfast cereals have extra vitamins and minerals added. These are
called fortified products. They are usually more expensive than those which have not
been fortified.
Storage tips for the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group:
Bread stored at room temperature stays fresh longest. Bread stored in the refrigerator gets
stale faster but will not mold quickly. You may freeze bread for up to six months. Store
rice, flour, noodles and cornmeal, etc. in tightly closed containers in a dry place.
Washing rice and rinsing cooked spaghetti and noodles removes important vitamins.
Is bread fattening?
Many people think bread products are fattening. This is not true, though. It is not the bread that is
fattening; it's what we put on the bread. If you add a pat of butter and a tablespoon of grape jelly
to the bread, it will have 160 calories instead of 80 calories. If you add two tablespoons of gravy
to your rice, the calories jump from 80 to 200. Foods from the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group
won't make you fat. This important group gives us vitamins, minerals and energy. Half of the
foods in our daily diet should come from this group. To make lower calorie choices in the bread,
cereal, rice and pasta group, follow these tips:
Choosing Cereals
Did you know that some cereals may have as much as three and one-half teaspoons of sugar in
each serving? We will look at how to choose the best cereals for you and your family. Cereals
are nutritious, tasty, convenient and low-cost. They are easy to prepare and are packed with
energy. Cereals help build muscles and other body tissues. They also help promote growth and
good health.
The USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommends eating six to eleven servings of bread, rice, cereal
and pasta each day. Cereals made from whole grains are best. They have more fiber. Examples
of whole-grain cereals are barley, corn, oats, rice and rye. Insoluble fiber aids in digestion and
elimination. Soluble fiber helps to reduce cholesterol levels. Cereals made from bran of wheat,
oats, rice, corn or other grains are high in dietary fiber. Cereals that are cheaper are usually more
nutritious. Cereals that you cook are usually less expensive than ready-to-eat or instant cereals.
Single packages of cereal cost more than large packages. Some cereals contain added sugar.
These cereals usually have more calories and cost more than plain cereals. Add your own sugar
to plain cereals to save money and calories. Use the ingredient label. Read labels to select the
best cereal. As a general rule, the shorter the list of ingredients, the more nutritious the cereal.
Look for whole grain as the first ingredient. Choose cereals that are whole grain, enriched or
restored. Look for the terms - oats, corn, rice, barley, rye and wheat.
Beta-carotene or vitamin A: May help protect against certain types of cancer. Keeps your hair
healthy and is needed for good vision. In pregnancy, helps develop baby's skeleton, eyes, skin,
hair, teeth, gums and glands. Fruits high in vitamin A include apricots, peaches, cantaloupes and
watermelons. Vegetables include carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, greens, pumpkin and winter
squash.
Vitamin C: Holds body cells together, heals wounds and helps body to use iron. In pregnancy,
helps form the baby's bones, teeth and gums. Fruits high in vitamin C include oranges,
grapefruit, strawberries, cantaloupe, tangerines, watermelon and tomatoes. Vegetables include
broccoli, potatoes, green peppers and cabbage.
Folic Acid: (Also called folacin or folate) Helps the body make red blood cells which helps
prevent anemia. The lack of folic acid may cause miscarriages or neural tube (brain) birth
defects. Oranges are a fairly good source of folic acid; green leafy vegetables are an excellent
source.
Iron: Makes hemoglobin, the part of blood that helps transport oxygen to cells. Found in leafy-
green vegetables and dried peas and beans. Needs to be combined with vitamin C source to aid
absorption.
Potassium: Involved in fluid balance. Major sources are potatoes, prunes, oranges and bananas.
Fruits and vegetables are also an important source of fiber. Soluble fiber found in vegetables and
fruits (like apples) have been shown to help lower blood cholesterol. Insoluble fiber aids
regularity of bowel movements, often a problem for the elderly and during pregnancy.
The Food Guide Pyramid recommends two to four servings of fruit per day, including at least
one serving of citrus fruit or juice. Participants should consume at least two servings, the
minimum number. A serving size equals three-fourths cup of juice, one medium apple, banana or
other fruit; one-half cup fresh, cooked or canned fruit.
The Food Guide Pyramid recommends three to five servings of vegetables, including at least two
servings of dark-green leafy, yellow or dark-orange vegetables. A serving size equals one-half
cup cooked or chopped raw vegetables, one cup leafy raw vegetables (like lettuce or spinach).
The Five-A-Day Plan suggests that at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables
should be eaten every day.
Fitting in Fruits
Drink fruit juices instead of soft drinks. Add club soda if you like.
Dress up a canned fruit salad with low-fat cottage cheese or a sprinkling of grated cheese.
Carry a banana, apple or orange in your purse for a snack instead of a candy bar.
Spread peanut butter on apple slices or bananas.
Freeze grapes or bananas for a frosty summer snack.
Eat applesauce hot or cold.
Try dry fruit like raisins and prunes as a snack.
Whip up a smoothie using frozen orange juice concentrate and milk. Add a mashed
banana, if you like.
We need a total of five to seven ounces of cooked lean meat each day. Let's see how we can get
this amount from the different foods in the meat group. For example, six ounces might come
from:
One egg for breakfast = one ounce of lean meat +
Two ounces sliced turkey in a sandwich at lunch +
Three ounces cooked lean hamburger for dinner =
Six ounces for the day.
1. Select lower-fat choices of beef and pork from the meat group. Generally, beef cuts with
loin or round in the name and pork cuts with loin in the name are the leanest choices. In addition,
select USDA Select grade for beef. Select grade is generally leaner than Choice because it has
less marbling (fat) and less fat on the edges. The fewer white specks you see in beef, the leaner
the meat.
2. Select fish and poultry more often than beef. Fish and poultry are lower in fat content than
beef. The greatest concentration of fat in poultry is in the skin. The Louisiana State University
Department of Poultry Science recommends to cook poultry with the skin on, then remove the
skin before eating. The poultry will be moister and more flavorful by following that procedure.
3. Cook in ways to reduce rather than add fat. Broil or roast on a rack. These cooking
methods require no added fat. Tenderize lean cuts by cooking slowly with moist heat, cooking in
liquid or marinating. Pounding and slicing across the grain also help. Remove fat from soups,
stews and casseroles by chilling them and skimming the hardened fat from the top. Cut off all
visible fat from the meat before cooking and eating.
4. Eat less meat. When we enjoy smaller portions of meat, we fill the rest of our plates with
fruit, vegetables, beans and rice, noodles or bread. Stretch smaller portions of meat and make
them more interesting by cooking them with vegetables in soups, stews, casseroles and stir-fried
dishes.
Choose More
Baked or stewed chicken with the skin removed. Remove the skin after the chicken is
cooked.
Roast turkey.
Lean ground beef or ground turkey.
Fish canned in water.
Leaner cuts of beef (Beef cuts with loin or round in the name are generally leaner
choices.)
Lower-fat packaged lunch meats, like turkey ham, smoked or baked chicken breast, very
thinly sliced chicken, turkey, ham, roast beef, boiled ham, honey loaf, turkey pastrami
and lower-fat hot dogs.
Poached or hard-cooked eggs.
Dry beans and peas cooked without added fat such as bacon grease or ham hocks.
Peanut butter limited to two tablespoons.
Nuts once in a while.
Choose Less
Fried chicken or turkey.
Regular ground beef or pork.
Fish canned in oil.
Beef cuts higher in fat, such as brisket, chuck blade roast steak or ribs.
Regular sandwich meats like salami and bologna, hot dogs and sausage.
Fried or scrambled eggs.
Dry beans and peas cooked with added fat such as bacon grease, lard or ham hocks.
Peanut butter
Nuts
Food Safety
Many cases of foodborne illness result from the mishandling of food in the home. Prevent
foodborne illness by handling, cooking and storing food properly.
1. Cook meats to proper degree of doneness. A good one-time purchase for your money is a
meat thermometer. A meat thermometer tells you the degree of doneness of the meat or poultry.
Beef, except for ground beef, can be cooked to rare (145 degrees F); pork should reach at least
160 degrees F and poultry should reach at least 180 degrees. The exception is turkey breast,
which is safe at 170 degrees F. The USDA recommends thorough cooking of raw meat products.
Disease-producing bacteria are destroyed when the meat is fully cooked.
Ground beef should be cooked until it's well-done or cooked to at least 160 degrees F. An instant
read thermometer is the best way to check temperature and the safest practice. If you don't have a
thermometer, ground beef should be gray in color. Cook ground beef until you do not see any
pink and juices run clear. Never eat ground beef rare or raw! Ground meat is especially
susceptible to bacteria because the surface can be contaminated and the grinding spreads the
bacteria throughout the meat. Disease-producing bacteria are destroyed when meat is fully
cooked.
2. Do not allow cooked meat to stand at room temperature. It is a good candidate for
bacterial growth at temperatures between 40 degrees and 140 degrees F. Refrigerate leftovers
immediately.
3. Marinate meats properly. While marinating, meats should be covered and refrigerated. Do
not use marinade for basting.
4. Keep hot foods hot (140 degrees to 165 degrees F). Bacteria can multiply rapidly at lower
temperatures.
5. Watch out for cross contamination. Do not expose food to the drippings from raw meat; for
example, don't put cooked meat back on the same unwashed cutting board that held raw meat
and don't cut vegetables on the same board.
Wash hands, work surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after they've come in contact with
raw meat. Non-wooden cutting boards which can be thoroughly scrubbed in hot water are
preferred.
6. Do not partially cook food, then finish cooking it the next day. Partial cooking encourages
bacterial growth, which may not be destroyed in further cooking.
Milk and milk products are our best source of calcium. Good non-dairy sources include sardines
and other fish canned with the bones, dark green leafy vegetables and shellfish. Foods made with
milk and milk products like macaroni and cheese, cream soups, puddings, custards and tacos also
provide calcium. It's important that you eat a variety of calcium-rich foods every day.
It's easy to get calcium without extra fat. Learn to read the labels and select low-fat or non-fat
products. In fact, skim and low-fat milks have more calcium than regular milk.
If you have trouble drinking milk because of bloating and gas, you probably have lactose
intolerance. That means you don't have the lactase enzyme needed to digest the lactose (sugar) in
milk. Choose lactose- reduced milk, acidophilus milk, Lactaid tablets or drops or fermented dairy
products such as buttermilk and yogurt or simply try drinking smaller amounts of milk at a time.
Evaporated Milk
Use evaporated milk straight from the can in making mashed potatoes, macaroni and
cheese, puddings and many other dishes.
Chill evaporated milk and you can whip it just like cream.
Evaporated skimmed milk has all the calcium and protein of milk without the fat.
Evaporated milk must be stored in the refrigerator after opening.
Fresh fluid milk, milk products, opened canned milk and reconstituted dry milk should be kept
refrigerated and covered. This will help it to stay fresh a long time. Store nonfat dry milk powder
in a tightly covered container in a cool dry place.
Eating the right types and amounts of foods is very important for us to get all the nutrients we
need to be healthy.
Variety and balance are the important ideas for a good food plan. No one food contains all the
nutrients we need. Following the Food Guide Pyramid helps us to eat a variety of foods. Eating a
variety of foods helps us get all of the needed nutrients.
Several nutrients are lacking in many of our diets. They are listed below in the order of being the
most deficient in our diets:
1. Folacin - important for normal growth and reproduction, for the prevention of blood
disorders and for mechanisms within the cells.
2. Vitamin B-6 - helps in amino acid metabolism and in having a healthy nervous
system. Vitamin B-6 deficiency in adults may cause depression, confusion and
convulsions.
3. Zinc - helps make enzymes, helps wounds heal, builds blood and helps growth to
occur as it should.
4. Iron - builds red blood cells for healthy blood supply and helps carry oxygen to all
parts of the body.
Calcium, vitamins A and C and iron are included on the Nutrition Facts label because they are
problem nutrients.
Sugars
Sucrose is the type of sugar found in table sugar, raw sugar (unrefined sugar), powdered sugar
and brown sugar (table sugar colored with molasses). Other forms of sugar include honey,
molasses, corn syrup or high-fructose syrup. Sugars supply calories, but little else nutritionally.
Many processed foods contain sugar. Look at the list of ingredients on the label. Ingredients are
listed in order by weight - from greatest to least. Look for the words that end in ose such as
sucrose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, lactose and glucose. Also, many foods contain corn syrup
and liquid sugar. If one of these sugars is listed as one of the first three ingredients, or if several
sugars are listed on the label, the product is probably high in sugar.
The average American eats a little over 40 pounds of sugar and sweets per year, not counting soft
drinks. Sugar consumption per person has increased almost 1 pound per year each year since
1985. Complex carbohydrates should be the biggest part of our diet. The best sources of
complex carbohydrates are starchy foods such as breads, potatoes, rice and spaghetti. These
foods provide other important nutrients in addition to carbohydrates. Sugars and sweets provide
carbohydrates and fill you up without providing essential vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber.
Sweets should be used for special treats, not as a major source of carbohydrates.
Sugar Myths
1. Sugar Causes Hyperactivity
Research has proved that this isn't true, although many people believe it to be true. If a child is
overexcited, it may be due to the situation (a birthday party, being out of school or a holiday such
as Halloween) and not because of the sweets that go along with it.
Breakfast
1 fruit - 3/4 cup orange juice
1 bread, 1 milk - 1 ounce cereal with 1 cup milk
1 bread, 1/2 meat - 1 slice whole-wheat toast with 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Morning Snack
1/2 milk, 1 bread - 1 slice cheese and 4 crackers
1 fruit - 3/4 cup apple juice
Lunch
1 meat, 2 breads, 1 fat - hamburger
1 vegetable, 1 fat - tossed salad with light dressing
1 milk - 1 cup low-fat or skim milk
Afternoon Snack
1 fruit - banana
1 bread - 4 vanilla wafers
Dinner
1 meat - 1 piece stewed chicken
2 breads - 1 cup rice
1 bread - 1 slice bread or cornbread
1 fat - 1 teaspoon margarine
1 vegetable - 1 cup cooked greens
1 vegetable - 1/2 cup carrot sticks
Night Snack
1/2 milk - 3/4 cup frozen low-fat chocolate yogurt
Eating On The Go
There's no great harm in eating foods that are high in fat, sugar or sodium and low in nutrients
once in a while. Many foods eaten on the go, however, are in that category. It's not uncommon
for as many as half of the day's diet to be foods eaten on the go. Look for foods that offer
moderate-to high levels of vitamins, minerals or fiber. To do this, try to find foods that will help
you meet the Food Guide Pyramid's recommended number of servings from the five food
groups. Look for foods that are moderate- to- low in fat, sugar and sodium. Here are some tips to
help you make better on-the-go choices:
Look in the refrigerator cases for juices, low-fat milk and yogurt.
Substitute pretzels for chips.
Buy easy-open cans of tuna or sardines instead of Vienna sausage or potted meat.
Choose fruit or raisins when you can.
Sometimes, get plain biscuits or a loaf of bread and some jelly, instead of sausage
biscuits, doughnuts or fried pies.
Read the labels! Look for grams of fat and milligrams of sodium. Remember that if you
take in about 2000 calories a day, you should take in only 65 grams of fat, total. About
2400 milligrams of sodium a day would be about the right limit, if you're not on a low-
sodium diet. Cups of soup or meal items to microwave are often high in sodium (800-
1000 milligrams).
Order a salad when available and ask for lettuce and tomato on a sandwich.
Summary
No one food group is more important than another. There are no good foods or bad foods.
However, it is important to balance the high- fat or high sugar foods with low- fat or low sugar
foods over a period of one or two days