The food pyramid is a triangle which is seen as the most food from good to evil is as muchan educational resource that is proposed as dietary guidelines for the population or asector of the population (children, young adults, elderly, etc.). . As such guidance is based on recommendations regarding the kinds of foods and how often they should be consumed in order to maintain health. The food pyramid was created by the Department of Agriculture United States dates from 1992 and has been reviewed and updated in 2005,with significant variations
In the initial version, arising from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the pyramid was ahorizontally structured according to the classification of foods into the following groups:
Cereals and cereal products (at the base of the pyramid).
And vegetables.
Fresh fruits.
Milk and its derivatives.
Meat, fish, eggs and pulses.
Sugars and fats (at the top of the pyramid).
What benefits us?
This tool is intended to provide guidance and offer practical options to integrate a proper diet, appropriate to each culture, customs, needs and possibilities of each individual to learn to balance your food in a practical and simple.
- A graphical display of the portions that must exist at every meal.- It provides easy identification of food groups to create healthy menus.- And neither group is privileged over another.
Classifies food into three groups
Vegetables and fruit provide vitamins, minerals and fiber, as well as color and texture to the diet. As an example of this group have the orange, banana, papaya, broccoli, carrots and squash, among others.
Remember it is important to include in the diet five portions of fruit or vegetables a day, preferably raw and from the station.
Cereals: are the main source of energy the body uses to perform their daily activities so their use is essential for the proper organ function. This group includes corn, rice, wheat and oats. It is better to eat whole grains for their fiber intake.
Legumes and foods of animal origin is the group that provides protein.
Among the legumes will find: beans, lentils and beans. Its use is recommended for one to two times a week.
Foods of animal origin also contribute saturated fat (cholesterol), so that their consumption should be limited to a quarter of your plate.
"A proper diet along with physical activity, are the building blocks that allow us to maintain good health," says nutritional adviser.
How to know if it is a good diet?
The following points will help you find this answer:
Complete: This means that contains all the food groups and therefore all nutrients. This is achieved by including at least one food from each group at each meal.
Balanced: The nutrients proportionately to each other, integrating food menus.
Enough: You have to meet the nutritional needs of each person according to age, sex, height, physical activity or physiological state.
Varied: including different foods from the three groups in each meal.
Hygienic: To be prepared, served and consumed for cleaning.
Suitable: For different tastes, customs and their availability.
It may sound complicated, but it is actually easier than it seems.
"The only limitation that exists for a proper diet is the imagination that we have to create healthy combinations," said the expert.
This is important, do not forget to approach nutrition expert and that will give you information and guide you to solve all your doubts.
