Food Guide Pyramid

HE-0707 Reprinted July 1999. Barbara Struempler, Extension Nutritionist, Professor, Nutrition and Food Science, Auburn University

Food Guide Pyramid

The Food Guide Pyramid can help you with food choices.
If you make wise food choices, you are more likely to be healthy.

How To Make The Pyramid Work For You

How many servings are right for me?

The Pyramid shows a range of servings for each major food group. The number of servings that are right for you depends on how many calories you need, which in turn depends on your age, sex, size, and activity level (how active you are).

Almost everyone should have at least as many servings as the lowest number in each range.

The following calorie level suggestions are based on recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and on calorie intakes reported by people in national surveys.

For Adults And Teens

A 1,600-calorie diet is about right for many sedentary women and some older adults.

A 2,200-calorie diet is about right for most children, teenage girls, active women, and many sedentary men. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may need somewhat more.

A 2,800-calorie diet is about right for teenage boys, many active men, and some very active women.

For Young Children

It is hard to know how much food children need in order to grow normally. If you’re not sure, check with your doctor. Preschool children need the same variety of foods as older family members do, but they may need fewer than 1,600 calories. For fewer calories they can eat smaller servings. However, it is important that they have the equivalent of 2 cups of milk a day.

For You

Now, take a look at the table below. It tells you how many servings you need for your calorie level. For example, if you are an active woman who needs about 2,200 calories a day, 9 servings of breads, cereals, rice, or pasta would be right for you. You’d also want to eat about 6 ounces of meat or meat alternates per day. Keep total fat (fat in the foods you choose as well as fat used in cooking or added at the table) to about 73 grams per day.

If you are between calorie categories, estimate servings. For example, some less active women may need only 2,000 calories to maintain a healthy weight. At that calorie level, 8 servings from the bread group would be about right.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.

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