USDA Food Pyramid Guidelines for Older Children and Adolescents

Here are the USDA guidelines for older children and adolescents.

Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group-preferably fat free or low fatMeat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts Group-preferably lean or low fat

		colspan="2"> How many servings each day?*
What counts as a serving?	Children 2-6 years (total of 1600 calories/day)	Children 6 and up (total of 2200 calories/day)	Teen boys (total of 2800 calories/day)
Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group 1 slice of bread About 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta	6	9	11
Vegetable Group 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables 1/2 cup of other vegetables-cooked or raw 3/4 cup of vegetable juice	3	4	5
Fruit Group 1 medium apple, banana, orange, pear 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit 3/4 cup of fruit juice	2	3	4
1 cup of milk*** or yogurt 1 1/2 ounces of natural cheese (such as Cheddar) 2 ounces of processed cheese (such as American)	2 or 3**	2 or 3**	2 or 3**
2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish. These count as 1 ounce of meat: 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or tofu 2 1/2 ounce soyburger 1 egg 2 tablespoons of peanut butter 1/3 cup of nuts	2, for a total 5 ounces	2, for a total 6 ounces	3, for a total 7 ounces

*Recommended servings for other populations are:

1600 calories is also about right many sedentary women, and some older adults.
2200 calories is also about right for teen girls, active women, and many sedentary men.
2800 calories is also about right for active men.

**Children and teens ages 9 to 18 years and adults over age 50 need 3 servings daily; others need 2 servings daily.

***This includes lactose-free and lactose-reduced milk products. Soy-based beverages with added calcium are an option for those who prefer a non-dairy source of calcium.

Borrowed from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Program Aid 1676, September 2000. Accessed March 11, 2005 at: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2000/usingdietguide.pdf.