Things I Like - Food

Last week I posted on Portion Distortion. We all know that portions have gotten bigger over time, but how many of you are familiar with a true serving size?

The chart below shows the standard serving size for a number of basic food items, along with a visual cue to help you recognize the quantity. For more serving size visuals, check out the chart here.

Why is it important to know what a standard serving size looks like? Well, if the recommended daily allowance for meat is 5 ounces, you need to know that the steak you're enjoying at Outback represents 3 day's worth of meat.

Speaking of RDA's, the US Department of Health & Human Services revised the food pyramid in 2005 to reflect research conducted during the last ten years that has reshaped the definition of healthy eating. The food groups have changed slightly (milk is a now a food group) and there is no longer an arbitrary cap on the intake of fat. In addition, the pyramid now incorporates gender, age and physical activity factors. The chart below summarizes the RDA's for Men and Women - see the official site for more detail.


I have to say, looking at this chart I think they've gone way too heavy on the fruits & vegetables and a little light on the grains. How am I supposed to get along on the equivalent of just 3 slices of bread per day?? That just about covers my pasta at dinner...