Choose My PlateUnit 6 – Food and Nutrition

GrainsCan I have a volunteer?

The average need for grains is 6 ounces per day Rice or Pasta

o 1 oz. is about ½ cup or the size of a small computer mouse

Breado 1 oz. or 1 slices is about the size of a cd cover

Dry cerealo 1 oz. or 1 cup, about the size of a baseball

For the most nutrition, select whole grain, enriched, or fortified grain products. Fortified foods have added vitamins or minerals not naturally present in the foods.

VegetablesVolunteer?

You need 2 ½ cups of vegetables every day Baked potato

o 1 medium, about the size of a computer mouse Vegetables/Salad

o 1 cup which is about the size of a baseball

FruitsVolunteer?

You need an average of 2 cups of fruit every day Apples, oranges

o Small, about 2 ½ inches in diameter - about the size of a tennis ball

Raisins or dried fruito ½ cup of sliced fruit or the size of a computer mouse

DairyVolunteer?

You need 3 cups Fat-free/Low-fat milk

o A 1 cup serving is the same as an 8oz milk carton Cheese

o 1 1/2 oz. serving is around the 3 dice. *Counts as 1 cup

Ice creamo ½ cup is about the size of ½ a baseball

ProteinVolunteer?

You need 5 ½ ounces of lean meatLean beef or Poultry

3 ounce serving is like the size of a deck of cardsGrilled or baked fish

3 ounce serving is about the size of a checkbookPeanut butter

2 tablespoon serving is about the size of a ping-pong ball *Counts as 1 oz.

OilsVolunteer?

Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature, like the vegetable oils used in cooking. Oils come from many different plants and from fish. Oils are NOT a food group, but they provide essential nutrients. Therefore, oils are included in USDA food patterns.

You need about 6 oz. of oils per day

Foods that are naturally high in oils: Nuts

Olives

Some Fish

Avocados

Portion Distortion

Increased portions sizes over the last 20 years has led to and

epidemic of obesity in the United States.

Watch the video and answer the questions!

choosemyplate.gov

MyPlate ActivityYou will create a nutritionally sound plate

according to our government guidelines using a paper plate and colored pencils.

You may choose to do a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Your meal must consist of items you would actually eat.

Label each item and the quantity of the item.

Portion DistortionPortion Distortion Quiz