Food Pyramid Basics Eat a variety of foods  A balanced diet means eating things from every food group Eat less of some things and more of others  According to the food pyramid, you should eat a lot of some foods and less of other foods  Can anybody see a section of the pyramid that you want to eat less of items in it? What color is it?

Orange-Grains Grains give us carbohydrates  Carbohydrates give us energy to run, play, and learn Grains are measured in ounces  A slice of bread is equal to an ounce of grains People ages 4-8 years old need 4 to 5 ounces of grains every day

Green-Vegetables Vegetables provide Vitamin A  Vitamin A helps us see in the dark and keeps our skin healthy Vegetables also provide Vitamin C  Vitamin C helps heal cuts and bruises People who are between the ages of 4 and 8 years old need 1 ½ cups of vegetables every day An ear of corn is about one cup and 6 baby carrots are about a half cup

Red-Fruits Fruits provide vitamin C as well  Helps our bodies heal cuts and bruises  Also helps fight infections People between the ages of 4 and 8 years old need 1 to 1 ½ cups of fruit everyday One small apple is about a cup and 16 grapes are about a half a cup

Yellow-Fats & Oils Oils are fats that are liquids at room temperature  Some of these oils are used in cooking Oils should be avoided as much as possible, however small amounts of oil from fish and nuts are okay. Fats should be avoided as well  Candy should be replaced with other small snacks like fruit or vegetables. People between the ages of 4-8 should limit oils to 4 teaspoons a day

Blue-Milk and Dairy Milk is an important provider of calcium  Calcium strengthens bones, helps stop bleeding and helps muscles contract and relax People between the ages of 4-8 need 2 cups of milk or other foods rich with calcium every day A half pint carton of milk is a cup of milk A regular 8 oz. container of yogurt counts as a cup of calcium rich food

Purple-Meat, Beans, Fish, & Nuts Foods in this group provide iron for the body  Iron carries oxygen to all parts of the body, helps prevent infections and helps give you energy Foods in this group are measured by ounces People between the ages of 4-8 years old need to eat 3 to 4 ounces everyday One egg is about an ounce One tablespoon of peanut butter is about an ounce

Resources "Inside the Pyramid." MyPyramid.Gov U.S. Department of Agriculture. 4 Apr "Interactive Pyramid." Nutrition Explorations National Dairy Council. 4 Apr "The Food Guide Pyramid." Kids Health Nemours Foundation. 3 Apr