Using the Food Pyramid Chart in Your Diet Plan

One tool every dieter should use is the food pyramid chart. This is a chart shaped like a pyramid which has the food types and quantities on it that individuals require. It is a great guide to help you pick healthy foods to use in designing your diet plan to help you melt away pounds.

Starting at the bottom of the food pyramid you will find food items that have energy and are rich in starch, low in fat, and includes such foods as bread, pasta, and cereal. The USDA says that the average person should consume 6 to 11 servings of these types of items daily. The best food out of these groupings are whole grains because they are the most healthiest and for a single serving of these foods you can include one cup of cereal, one tortilla, one slice of bread and one ounce of pasta.

Next up on the chart is the vegetables and fruits. So in picking these to go in your diet plan you would want to include the darker green veggies and some fruit. In this selection you will be increasing your fiber, which is a good thing. As this will keep the bowels flowing properly. Plus these groups are rich in vitamins and minerals which also help the functioning of various body organs. Don't do like some people would do and choose juices instead of the real food.

The next group up in the chart is the proteins and dairy products. Out of this grouping you will want to have 2 to 3 servings daily. Now proteins come from meat, eggs, fish, beans, and nuts. One fact to note is don't over do the nuts as they contain fats. In the dairy line the best one to have is milk as it has the most complete vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. You can also include in your diet some cheese or yogurts but stay away from the ice cream as much as possible because of the fat content. But, I wouldn't deprive myself of it; a little taste will help with the sweet tooth.

Now we are at the top of the pyramid, which will consist of oils and sweets. These you will want to use sparingly. In this group you will have cream, oils, butter, candies, and margarine. The bad thing about these is that they are hard for the stomach to digest and should be used in small amounts. But, just remember these are important and to include a few in your diet.

Each group listed here is an important part of a healthy diet and it is up to you to choose wisely the ones you want to include in your diet. If you will go to this website fat-to-fitness-results.com fat-to-fitness-results.com you will find more information that you can use in creating a workable diet plan. While there sign up for a free bonus and a weekly newsletter discussing different things you can do to help you lose weight and get fit again. Thanks for reading this article, if you want information on a special topic then leave me a comment.