Class 15 enjoyed a “tasty” review of the food groups this morning in Health & Wellness.
Today we identified several foods and what groups they belonged in. We then built a whole meal with the foods! We made sure to use one food from each group to create a well-balanced meal. Lisa definitely did not forget to add dessert into her meal!! Yum Yum! We will be continuing our foods and nutrition lesson with worksheets, classroom discussions, and even a foods and nutrition bingo game!
Food Groups:
Fruit: Fruit provides your body with essential nutrients including vitamins A and C, potassium and healthy carbohydrates for energy. Adults need 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruits per day. Half a cup of dried fruit, a small fruit or 1 cup of diced fresh fruit, drained canned fruit or 100 percent fruit juice count as a serving.
Vegetables: Vegetables such as spinach and carrots are packed with nutrients including folate, iron and magnesium. Adults need 2 1/2 to 3 cups of vegetables per day. As a general rule, 1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice or 2 cups of leafy greens count as a serving.
WholeGrain: Adults need a minimum of 3 to 4 ounce equivalents of whole grains per day. Ideally, all grains should be whole grains. An ounce is roughly equivalent to a cup of cereal, a slice of bread or 1/2 cup of cooked rice, pasta or cereal.
Dairy: Milk, some dairy and some dairy alternatives such as calcium-fortified soy milk are all included in the dairy group. Foods in this group are rich in calcium, which promotes healthy bones and teeth. Adults need 3 cups of dairy per day. One cup of milk, yogurt or soy milk count as a serving. One and a half ounces of natural cheese and 2 ounces of processed cheese also count as a cup.
Protein: Your body needs protein to repair damaged tissues and build new tissues. Protein comes from a variety of foods including beans, legumes, fish, meat, poultry, eggs, soy products, nuts and seeds. Adults need 5 to 6 1/2 ounce equivalents of protein per day. A serving is 1 ounce of meat, poultry or seafood; one egg; 1 tablespoon of nut butter; 1/4 cups of cooked beans; or 1/2 ounce of nuts or seeds. Fish and nuts, on the other hand, are a good source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats.