The basic food groups include grains, meat and fish, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes oils, fats, and sugars. The purpose is to give people an idea of how much of each type of food they should eat each day for optimal health. The largest group of staple foods includes grains, vegetables, and fruits. The protein and dairy groups should be eaten less. Junk food should be eaten in moderation.
The basic food groups vary according to the dietary guidelines with which they are associated. The government, for example, establishes different categories of food groups for certain meal plans designed to prevent heart disease or high blood pressure. However, in a general sense, the basic food groups can generally be divided into five or six categories; This includes grains, meat and fish, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes an additional category made up of oils, fats, and sugars, and “discretionary calories.”
The purpose of the basic food groups, and the often referenced Food Pyramid provided by the USDA, is to give people an idea, at a glance, of how much of each type of food they should eat each day for optimal health. . The basic food groups are divided into serving sizes for the items in each group, so a certain number of servings per day is generally recommended.
The largest group of staple foods generally includes the grain, vegetable, and fruit groups. This means that one should try to eat the most foods throughout the day from those three food groups. Whole grains are recommended because they contain fiber; White bread, for example, is not a good choice because it contains processed white flour that the body converts to sugar and fat. A variety of fruits and vegetables is the best option; Experts often recommend eating vegetables in as many different colors as possible.
The protein groups, which are sometimes divided into meat and fish, or meat and beans, as well as the dairy group, make up the rest of the daily food groups. It is recommended that one eat less of these three groups than those mentioned above. Leaner proteins and meats, such as chicken and fish, are recommended over beef. Products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt make up the dairy group.
Although not usually considered one of the food groups, the food category made up of “junk” food is also often mentioned. These foods should be eaten in moderation or not, and are generally high in certain oils, as well as fats and sugar. This group may also be referred to as discretionary calories. You don’t need to strictly follow the rules of the basic food groups to be healthy, and those with specific health concerns may require certain variations, but they do provide helpful general guidelines for a healthy diet and eating plan.
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