food
...an have 3/4 cup of juice, 1 medium size banana or apple, or 1/2 cup canned fruit. This is the level of the pyramid that we are told we do not eat enough of. The third level also has two blocks- the milk group and the meat group. The milk group is really milk, cheese and yogert. We need 2-3 servings of these. You could have 1 cup of milk or yogert, or 2 ounces of American cheese. We all know this group is full of calcium which is important for bones and teeth. This is true for all ages, not just growing kids. Adults need to keep their bones strong to prevent them from weakening as they get older. The meat group contains meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. A serving can be 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, or 2 ounces of cooked meat. Protein and iron are the biggest benefit of this group, but they also contain fats. It is said we should have little servings of red meats and go for lean meats like chicken or even fish instead. Cholesterol is real problem with the red meats and fatty nuts. The top of the pyramid is the sweets, oils and fats. No servings are listed- we are told to use them sparingly. The sugars and fats in this group are a big source of obesity and poor nutrition. The less we have the better. That's the reason the pyramid was created. It is a guide to how to eat healthy and maintain a good body weight. Eating a good variety of foods from all the groups can insure all or most of the vitamins and minerals we need will be eaten. You will feel better and have much more energy. You will not be sleepy in class and you will have enough energy for the entire day and for after school sports. You will sleep better and your skin and hair will look nicer. Eating better goes along with exercise because when you have more energy, you are more likely to want to play sports and exercise. Then when you do exercise, you don't want to eat junk when you're done. As you get more fit, your blood pressure goes down, your muscles, bones and joints get stronger. Good nutrit...