A good rule to follow is to eat a variety of different foods every day. No one food or group of foods contains all of the nutrients you need. Protein helps your body heal itself and fight infection. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, yogurt, and cheese give you protein as well as many vitamins and minerals. Grains, such as bread, pasta, rice, and cereals, provide a variety of carbohydrates and B vitamins.
Carbohydrates provide a good source of energy, which the body needs to function well.
Milk and other dairy products provide protein and many vitamins and are the best source of calcium. To help Americans learn how to choose a healthy diet, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designed a Food Guide Pyramid. The Food Guide Pyramid gives the amounts and types of foods most Americans should try to eat each day. Eat a Variety of Foods Each Day , gives more details about the guidelines in the Pyramid. The sample menu shows one way you can follow the Food Pyramid guidelines.