As the years have gone by, the serving sizes recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each food group has changed quite a bit. First, we had the food pyramid released by the USDA in 1992, then in 2005 they released MyPyramid, and in 2011 they released MyPlate.
Although the school of thought on the "right way" of eating is constantly evolving, right now we are in the era of My Plate. If you visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ you will find tons of information on the current stance that the USDA is taking on proper nutrition for Americans from age 2 - 51+ years. You can find all about MyPlate, Weight Management & Calories, Physical Activity, what they call their SuperTracker & Other Tools, as well as Healthy Eating Tips.
"SO... what about these serving sizes???" Well, if you take a gander at the MyPlate section of choosemyplate.gov you will find different tabs on the SIX different food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, dairy, and oils. In each of these tabs, you can check out topics such as: what foods fall under each food group, what counts as a cup, health benefits and nutrients of each group, tips to help you eat these foods, and finally, how much is needed.
The amount needed varies based on age, sex, and amount of physical activity.
A child ages 4-8 *needs approximately 1 - 1.5 cups of fruit, 1.5 cups of vegetables, at least 2.5 ounces but typically 5 ounces of grains, 4 ounces of protein foods, 2.5 cups of dairy, and an allowance of 4 teaspoons of oils.
*If you would like to know the daily needs of individuals not in the 4-8 year age range, click the hyperlinks above for each food group*
So there you have it folks! The daily recommended servings to get your child optimal amounts of each food group for the best nutrition possible.
"So what do I do with this information?? I know how much to feed my child but what exactly do I feed them??" Well now calm down, because the USDA (and myself!) has thought of that too! The website has Sample Menus and Recipes, as well as Sample Meal and Snack Patterns. They even have Tips for Vegetarians and Tips for Eating Healthy When Eating Out! Boy, they've thought of everything! Well, even if they have, I've got some tips up my sleeve as well ;)
Be on the lookout for upcoming recipe posts and sample meal plans! For now, that's it.
- Miss. Wilson
"SO... what about these serving sizes???" Well, if you take a gander at the MyPlate section of choosemyplate.gov you will find different tabs on the SIX different food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, dairy, and oils. In each of these tabs, you can check out topics such as: what foods fall under each food group, what counts as a cup, health benefits and nutrients of each group, tips to help you eat these foods, and finally, how much is needed.
The amount needed varies based on age, sex, and amount of physical activity.
A child ages 4-8 *needs approximately 1 - 1.5 cups of fruit, 1.5 cups of vegetables, at least 2.5 ounces but typically 5 ounces of grains, 4 ounces of protein foods, 2.5 cups of dairy, and an allowance of 4 teaspoons of oils.
*If you would like to know the daily needs of individuals not in the 4-8 year age range, click the hyperlinks above for each food group*
So there you have it folks! The daily recommended servings to get your child optimal amounts of each food group for the best nutrition possible.
"So what do I do with this information?? I know how much to feed my child but what exactly do I feed them??" Well now calm down, because the USDA (and myself!) has thought of that too! The website has Sample Menus and Recipes, as well as Sample Meal and Snack Patterns. They even have Tips for Vegetarians and Tips for Eating Healthy When Eating Out! Boy, they've thought of everything! Well, even if they have, I've got some tips up my sleeve as well ;)
Be on the lookout for upcoming recipe posts and sample meal plans! For now, that's it.
- Miss. Wilson