Tip 93 – Follow these basics for you and your family.

These suggestions reflect the original USDA Food Pyramid designed in 1992. The idea was to set down in concrete terms easy-to-follow guidelines. Many new versions of this pyramid have been developed since then, but I thought you would enjoy seeing the basics and knowing from where all the other more complicated systems were derived.

Food Type                           Examples                        Number of Servings

Fats, Oils, Sweets      Butter, Olive Oil, Dried Fruit                 1 – 2

Protein                 Meat, Fish, Poultry, Beans, Eggs, Nuts       2 – 3

Dairy                                   Milk, Yogurt, Cheese                      2 – 3

Vegetables                  Carrots, Celery, Peas, Beets, etc.          3 – 4

Fruit                    Apple, Oranges, Bananas, Grapes, etc,          3 – 4

Breads & Cereals     Bread, Cereal, Whole Grains, etc.            6 – 11

Parenting insight…

Look carefully and you will see the real meaning of the pyramid. Look even more carefully and notice the similarities with the well-known and highly valued Mediterranean Diet.

February! The Month of the Heart

Tomatoes are good for your heart. They even have four chambers and are red just like the heart. Many foods look just like the parts of the body they particularly help. Here are three other examples:

Carrots (cross section) help eyes.

Walnuts help the brain

Green grapes help white blood cells