The Food Guide Pyramid is a practical tool to help you make food choices that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Using the Pyramid enables you to eat a variety of foods daily so that you can get the nurtrients you need.

To make the most of the Pyramid, you need to know what counts as a serving.

Food Group--Serving Size

Bread--1 slice bread, 1/2 bagel or English mufficn, 1 ounce ready-to-eat cereal, 1/2 cup coked cereal, rice or pasta, or 5-6 small crackers.

Vegetable--1 cup raw, leafy vegetables, 1/2 cup cooked or chopped raw vegetables or 3/4 cup vegetable juice.

Fruit-- 1 medium piece of fruit, 1/2 cup mixed fruit or 3/4 cup fruit juice.

Milk-- 1 cup milk or yogurt, 1 1/2 ounces natural cheese or 2 ounces process cheese. Meat-- 2-3 ounces cooked lean meat, puultry or fish (about the size of a deck of cards).

Other foods which count a s1 ounce meat: 1/2 cup cooked dry beans, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons peanut butter or 1/3 cup nuts.