The Five Food Groups.

            The Five Food Groups

The Five Food Groups.

            The scheme provides an easy guide for menu planning and for
            initial assessment of a diet. Each group provides specific
            nutrients and, if eaten in the correct proportions, will help
            to ensure adequate nutrition.

            The food groups and the amounts recommended for daily
            consumption, by an adult with an average level of physical
            activity. People who are particularly physically active can
            eat more.

            The milk group will need to me increased for pregnant and
            lactating mothers and for growing children. Other groups
            may also need to modify this scheme.

            The most obvious of these is vegetarians. They will need to
            alter Group 3 to eggs, legumes, seeds and nuts or textured
            vegetable-protein foods. Group 4 foods need to be increased
            to 600 ml or the equivalent in cheese and yoghurt.

The Five Food Groups. ::

          

           Group                                                  Nutrients

   

1.  Bread and cereals     

          Choose from bread, ready-to-        Carbohydrates

          eat cooked cereals, rice and            Vitamin B group

          pasta. Select wholegrain                    Protein

          products for preference for              Roughage

          extra dietary fiber.                             (if wholegrain}

          4 or more servings each day.           Minerals

2.  Vegetables and fruit          

 

         Select one serving which is                Vitamin A, C

         dark green, yellow or orange -          Minerals

         for vitamin A. Select one                     Roughage

         serving from citrus, berry or             Carbohydrates

         tropical fruits or tomatoes – for        (energy)

         vitamin C. Then select two

         servings or more from any

         other vegetables or fruits.

         4 or more serving each day.

  3.   Meat & meat alternatives

      Choose from beef, lamb, veal,           Protein

         pork, poultry, eggs, fish, dried           Iron

         peas and beans, lentils, nuts               Vitamins B, D

         and peanut butter. 1 serving -            Energy

         75 to 100 g meat, chicken or

         Fish or 3/4 cup of cooked beans.

         1 or 2 serving each day.

  4. Milk and Milk products  

         Recommend 2 cups each day.           Calcium

         1 cup (250 ml) milk**                           Vitamins A, B, D

         = 1/4 cup                                                    Protein

         powdered milk                                          Energy

         = 1/2 cup of

         Evaporated milk

         = 1 cup of yogurt

         = 1 cm cube of

         cheese (30g)

        ** Full cream, reduced fat or

             low fat milk.

  5. Butter or table margarine

     

        1 tablespoon each day.                         Energy

        Cream can occasionally be                  Vitamins A, D

        substituted.                                                Essential fats

        1 tbsp cream = 1/2 tbsp

        butter/margarine.

  *   Additional serving are recommended for children and
       pregnant or lactating women.

  ** Full cream, reduced fat or low fat milk.