MyPyramid - Your Food Pyramid Reference for Balanced Nutrition - Start Making Choices

 
Balancing Nutrition Made Easier

Look for this MyPyramid nutritional information in stores now.

Meeting your recommended daily amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and meat and beans is easier with the MyPyramid nutritional information on the packages of many of your favorite foods.

Climb MyPyramid!

This handy reference tool is easy to follow and color coded to show how each product contributes to the USDA's MyPyramid. You can use it to help identify how your favorite foods satisfy your daily food group needs.

This MyPyramid graphic, on most ConAgra Foods® packaging, shows that this meal provides 25% of the daily grains, 30% of the daily vegetables, and 30% of the daily meat and beans groups.

What's in a food group?

Here is some information you'll need to build meals and snacks that help you meet your daily recommended amounts from all five food groups.

Grains
Grains
Foods made from wheat, rice, oats, or other cereal grains count as members of the grain group. Make at least half of your grain choices whole grains for their fiber and other benefits. For example, use whole-grain brown rice instead of white rice.

Each portion represents 17% of the daily recommended amount:
  • 1 packet plain, instant oatmeal
  • 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal
  • 1 regular slice of bread
  • 1/2 cup of cooked pasta
  • 3 cups popped popcorn
  • 1 small tortilla
Vegetables
Vegetables
Carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, and potatoes are just a few examples. Vary your veggies by eating them cooked or raw, fresh, frozen, canned, dried, juiced, mashed, or whole.

Each portion represents 20% of the daily recommended amount:
  • 1/2 cup canned, diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup vegetable juice
  • 1 cup raw lettuce
  • 6 baby carrots
Fruit
Fruit
Focus on fruits by choosing favorites like apples or bananas. For more variety, try cherries, melons, or pineapples. Your fruit choices can be fresh, frozen, canned, or dried; choose whole or sectioned fruit, or drink 100% fruit juices or purees.

Each portion represents 25% of the daily recommended amount:
  • 1/2 cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit
  • 1/2 cup watermelon chunks
  • 1/2 cup 100% fruit juice
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1 small banana
Milk
Milk
Get your calcium-rich foods by choosing fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, or cheese. If you avoid dairy foods, choose calcium-enriched foods such as soy and rice products, juices, cereals, or breads fortified with calcium.

Each portion represents 33% of the daily recommended amount:
  • 1-1/2 ounces cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese
  • Yogurt or frozen yogurt
  • 1 cup milk
Meat and Beans
Meat
Go lean with protein by choosing lean meats such as beef, pork, ham, or fish. Other great protein choices include cooked dry beans or peas, tofu, nuts and seeds, and eggs or egg substitutes.

Each portion represents 18% of the recommended daily amount:
  • 1 ounce cooked chicken breast
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup kidney beans
  • 1 egg

Find all of these products with MyPyramid labels, in stores today.

ACT II(R) Banquet(R) Chef Boyardee(R)* Egg Beaters(R)
Healthy Choice(R) Hunt's(R) Kid Cuisine(R) Marie Callender's(R)
Orville Redenbacher's(R) Peter Pan(R) Rosarita(R)  


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SmartShop Tip
Substitute a meatless dish for your usual meat entrée. Build a lower-cost meal around grains and beans for complete protein.
Tips for better balance




Ask Dr. Rippe

Ask Dr. Rippe My Pyramid nutritional information