Fruits and vegetables contain important vitamins and minerals that help prevent diseases, as well as fiber that can lower cholesterol, keep the intestine healthy and aid digestion. Think of proteins as building blocks of the body: they help it grow and repair itself. Proteins are found in meat, fish, and eggs, while nuts, beans, lentils, peas, dahl, Quorn, and soy are excellent plant proteins. These foods also provide us with iron and other vitamins and minerals.
The six essential nutrients are vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, water and carbohydrates. People need to consume these nutrients from dietary sources for the body to function properly. Try to keep foods such as butter, margarine, cooking oils and salad dressings to a minimum and save chocolate, chips, sugary soft drinks, candies, jam, cream, pies, puddings, cookies and pastries for the occasional treat. Usually, a person who eats a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins can get all the vitamins they need in their food.
Amounts by food group The USDA dietary standards specify the objectives for each food group in equivalent cups (for fruits, vegetables, and dairy products) and in ounces (for grains and protein foods). The five food groups As the My Plate icon shows, the five food groups are fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy products. Enjoy foods from each of the five food groups and you'll get a fantastic combination of the best nutrients and vitamins. The USDA dietary patterns provide the recommended amounts for each food group and subgroup at 12 different calorie levels, ranging from 1,000 to 3,200.
Some of the food groups are divided into subgroups to emphasize foods that are particularly good sources of certain vitamins and minerals. As the back-to-school season approaches, MyPlate nutritionists offer a refresher lesson on food groups to brush up on the basics. People should avoid overly processed products containing bleached white flour and foods with added sugar. Each food group includes a variety of foods that have a similar nutritional composition, and each group plays an important role in an overall healthy eating pattern.
Gov offers numerous educational resources on nutrition based on food groups, such as tip sheets, videos, food group questionnaires, infographics, and more. It is important not to consume too many foods from this group, as they provide us with a lot of caloric energy, but they don't provide many nutrients.
