What Are Fruits in the Food Groups?
Fruit, a food group contained in the USDA's food pyramid, is an important part of the American diet. The food pyramid was designed by the USDA as dietary guide for people ages 2 and over.
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Guidelines
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The dietary guidelines for fruit range from one to two cups a day, depending on gender, age and the amount of exercise each person gets.
Types
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Fruits contained in the food group include apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, nectarines, peaches, plums, papayas, oranges, prunes, raisins, tangerines, pears, pineapples, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, watermelons, mangoes, kiwis, lemons and limes, grapefruits, grapes and berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries.
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Considerations
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Juice can also be consumed to receive the daily allowance of fruit recommended by the USDA, including orange, cranberry, apple, grape and grapefruit. This juice must contain 100 percent real fruit juice to meet the dietary guidelines of the food pyramid.
Additonal Information
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Don't forget that fruits can be eaten fresh dried, frozen, pureed or canned.
More information
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The amount of fruit to consume in a balanced diet can be found at http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/fruits_amount_table.html.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of yohe!**
