Food Pyramid
Designed by the US Dept. Of Agriculture, the food pyramid serves as the primary model for the promotion of healthy nutrition in children over six. It is also known as kids food pyramid but it has applications for all ages and all health conditions. It basically represents a guide to good health by helping people make the right food choices. Meat, vegetables and fruit, fat, dairy products and cereal, wholegrain bread and pasta make the main categories. The food pyramid also emphasizes the need to keep the level of sugar and fat low.
The food pyramid also shows the number of servings you should have from each food category per day. Normally, the age and the level of activity also have a word to say in the portion size, but the body weight matters a lot here too. Fats for instance make 30% of your diet, and they should primarily come from dairy products, meat and eggs. There are also unsaturated fats that are a lot healthier, and this is the case with olive oil, nuts and peanuts.
Another group of foods in the food pyramids are sugars that come with the highest level of calories and the lowest nutritional value. You should consume honey more than sugar and avoid jellies, jams and soft drinks in excess. Balance is what matters most here.
By far the best source of minerals, vitamins and protein are dairy products, and children depend most on this category in the food pyramid. Yogurt, milk and cheese should be part of your children's daily diet. Fat cheese and ice-cream should be carefully avoided.
Protein coming from lean meat are also important, but we need to emphasize the fact that you should not eat the skin or replace a natural chicken breast with a hamburger. Junk food is not exactly ideal, and not all hamburgers are made of quality beef. Moderation is once again the best way to stay on the safe side and provide no nutrients in excess.
Let us also refer to vegetables and fruit as the main sources of minerals and vitamins. Vitamin C and A, as well as iron, fibers and magnesium can be taken from leafy greens more than from other sources. It is important to eat a variety of vegetables in order to get all the nutrients necessary for the optimal body functioning. This being said, it only remains for you to put into practice the tips available with the food pyramid.