» Student Worksheet

Note to students: The "Diet Wars" program discussed many kinds of diets. It looked closely at the USDA food pyramid. How does your diet compare to the pyramid? To find the answer go to the following Web site:
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/food-pyramid/main.htm

You will be turning this section in for a grade. Read the information that examines the food pyramid and answer the following questions:

The Food Guide Pyramid: A Guide to Daily Food Choices

Food Group: Bread, Cereal, Rice and Pasta
How many servings does the pyramid recommend?_______________
Did you eat more or less of them?_______________

Food Group: Vegetable Group
How many servings does the pyramid recommend?_______________
Did you eat more or less of them?_______________

Fruit Group: Fruit
How many servings does the pyramid recommend?_______________
Did you eat more or less of them?_______________

Food Group: Milk Yogurt and Cheese
How many servings does the pyramid recommend?_______________
Did you eat more or less of them?_______________

Food Group: Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs and Nut Group
How many servings does the pyramid recommend?_______________
Did you eat more or less of them?_______________

Looking At Pieces of the Pyramid
Fats, Oils and Sweets
Continue to read the information in this section of the Web site.

• What foods do you eat that are found in the small tip of the pyramid?
• Compare the foods that you eat in this part of the pyramid to foods that you eat in the five food categories?
• What percent of your foods are in the fat, oils and sweet category?

How to Make the Pyramid Work for You
Continue reading the information in the section "How to Make the Pyramid Work for You." If you feel you would like to change your eating habits, discuss this with your parents, doctor or teacher. The documentary "Diet Wars" pointed out that there is great confusion about the kinds of diets available. Some diets may actually hurt your health. This exercise was an attempt to help you think about what you eat and how it may influence your body, not to recommend a particular diet.

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