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.