Explore the USDA Food Pyramid

A Meal with Better Portions

Compared to the previous photo, this hamburger and vegetables show better serving sizes.

Photo © David Rose

Determining Healthy Portion Size

• A serving of meat is about two or three ounces, or about the size of a deck of cards. Serving sizes for other proteins would be two tablespoons of nut butters, two eggs, and one third cup of dry beans.
• A serving of bread is equal to one slice of white or whole grain bread, one ounce of prepared cereal, or just one half cup of pasta, or rice.
• A serving of is equal to one piece of fresh fruit, one half a cup of chopped fruit, or three-fourths cup of fruit juice.
• A serving of dairy is equal to one cup of milk or one and one half ounces of cheese.

Now that you know how big the servings are, let's look at the USDA Food Pyramid and compare it to the other pyramids.

Next: the base of the Food Pyramid.

• The USDA Food Pyramid - Introduction
• Portion Distortion
• A Meal with Better Portions
• The First Step of the USDA Food Pyramid - Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta
• The Next Step of the USDA Food Pyramid - Vegetables and Fruits
• The Next Step of the USDA Food Pyramid - Oils
• The Next Steps of the USDA Food Pyramid - Dairy and Proteins
• A Healthy Balanced Diet