Making Menus Matter for Mealtimes with MyPyramid

WRITING THE WINNING MENU

An appropriately written menu should follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid to assure nutritional adequacy. Good menus have choices from every food group and get the most nutrition out of the calories provided.

MyPyramid gives more specific guidelines about the types and AMOUNTS of foods to eat than the previous Food Guide Pyramid. For adults, this is based on a 2,000 kcal diet. Adjustments may need to be made for an individual’s age, gender, and physical activity level. The following offers the suggested guidelines for young children, girls and boys.

As a general guideline, a meal should have at least three different food groups to help balance out what the body needs every day to get all the nutrients needed. For more specific information, visit the MyPyramid site for kids!

Grain Group Eat 6 ounce-equivalents with 3 ounce-equivalents or more of whole-grain products and the remaining grains should come from enriched or whole-grain products.
Vegetable Group Eat the equivalent of 2½ cups of raw or cooked vegetables per day.
Fruit Group Eat the equivalent of 2 cups of fresh, canned or frozen fruits per day.
Dairy Group Consume 3 cups per day of fat-free or low-fat milk or equivalent milk products
Meat & Beans Group Eat 5½ ounce-equivalents, choosing lean meat and poultry. Choices need to be varied among fish, beans, peas, nuts and seeds, as well as the lean meat and poultry.