Nutrition Pyramid
 Whether you are trying to explain nutrition to a child or you need a more visual way to understand how nutrition plays a part in your health, the nutrition pyramid is a great tool. As a pyramid, it is broken up into different parts of a diet based on the recommended daily servings, with the most servings on the on one side and the fewest on the other.
The food nutrition components of the food pyramid are:
- 6-11 servings (6oz or the equivalent) servings of whole grains, including breads, cereals, crackers, rice, or pasta
- 3-5 servings (2.5 cups) of vegetables. Choose a variety of different veggies that are bright in colors.
- 2-4 servings (2 cups) of fruits. Choose a variety of fruits, including apples, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, and many others.
- 2-3 (3 cups or the equivalent) servings of dairy. These can include milk, cheeses, and yogurt.
- 2-3 servings (5.5 oz or the equivalent) of protein/meats, such as lean beef, poultry, beans, nuts, and eggs.
- Sparingly use oils, fats, and sugars. They don't need to be cut out of every meal, but try to make healthy choices about what dressings, condiments, and sweets to eat.
- Exercise
The guidelines in the nutrition pyramid are intended to serve as nutrition tips and recommendations for daily consumption as part of a healthy diet. Each person has his or her own individual nutritional needs, which changes based on factors like age and gender. Your heath care provider or an experienced nutritionist or dietitian can help you create a diet plan to suit your unique needs.
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