Complete the Pyramid Puzzle Every Day!
Think of the Pyramid as a giant puzzle that provides the 40+ nutrients our bodies need every day to stay healthy. The Five Food Groups - Milk, Fruits, Vegetables, Grains and Meat - are the puzzle pieces. Each food group makes a unique nutrient contribution to our diet and the foods in each group contain similar nutrients. When we eat the recommended servings from each food group, our diet is complete. When a food group is missing, the puzzle is incomplete. We fall short on the nutrients provided by the missing group.

Eat a Variety of Foods from Each Food Group
Even though the nutrients in each food group are similar, each food provides different amounts. Eating a wide variety of foods from each group is the best way to get all the nutrients we need.

Count Nutrient-Packed Combination Foods
Foods like pizza, tacos and sub-sandwiches combine foods from two or more of the food groups. They count as a full or partial serving from the food groups they contain. For example, a taco provides:

• tortilla from the Grain Group
• ground beef from the Meat Group
• lettuce and tomato from the Vegetable Group
• cheese from the Milk Group

Combination foods are nutritious choices because of the nutrient content of the foods they combine.

Limit Foods from the "Others" Category
• "Others" foods don't provide enough nutrients to fit into any of the food groups. Generally, they are higher in calories compared to the nutrients they contain.

• Use positive messages when teaching about "Others" foods. Children need to know these foods are okay in limited amounts as long as they choose the recommended foods from the Five Food Groups.