The Four Food Groups

Unlike the categories on food pyramid we grew up with, there are now officially five different categories from which we need to take daily requirements. The new food group is considered to be butters and oils, but for our purposes here, let's consider that we still have the original four. The original four food groups are defined as dairy, meats, fruits, and vegetables. Let's examine each group further and discuss what we need to take from each of them.

Breads, pasta, rice, and cereals all fall under the category of grains. That's a wide range of foods. Breads, for example, come in all shapes and sizes, with pita, white, rye, and wheat being some of the more popular varieties. And just take a look down any grocery store cereal aisle to see how many choices you have for that food. Pasta and rice are pretty limited in their varieties, but you can still dress them up many different ways. And almost every food here has been fortified with vitamin and mineral supplements for our daily nutrition. This is beneficial to us, as we likely wouldn't get our recommended daily allowance of these things even by eating healthy foods if our grains and milk weren't infused with them.

The vegetable food group is next on the list, and here is where we can reach some big goals in terms of our nutrition. It is almost impossible to make a poor vegetable choice or overindulge with them. We must only be careful not to overeat too many starchy veggies. Starch turns to sugar when it is consumed, and we definitely do not need any more sugar than we currently get.

Fruits are another great and healthy category, as long as we steer clear of the ones with high sugar contents. While many fruits contain sugars that naturally occur within them, that doesn't mean we can consume them irresponsibly. About 4 servings of fruit a day amounts to a healthy daily allowance.

The proteins our body needs to develop properly can be acquired through the meat, fish, poultry, dry beans, and eggs food group. Our brains and organs have a hard time developing without these necessary proteins. And an organ that did not develop properly may also not function properly. Protein is an essential building block to keeping our bodies growing and developing at the right rate. One unfortunate factor in this food group is the existence of naturally occurring cholesterol that can be found in animal meets. While a small amount of cholesterol helps our bodies, it is never healthy to consume too much.

And finally, we would like to discuss the dairy group. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are the forerunners of this group. And this food group contains one of the most essential vitamins we need to be healthy. In order to have optimally functioning cells and grow our bones, our bodies require calcium. Calcium is vital to the health of our essential organs including the heart. If our bodies don't get sufficient calcium, we can suffer severe, life-altering consequences. Women past the age of menopause run the risk of developing osteoporosis simply due to not ingesting enough calcium in their younger years.

Everyone from adults to children needs to understand how important these four food groups are to their daily lives, and the lessons learned in the food pyramid should be followed from when we are children to when we reach old age.