If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. Alcoholic beverages supply calories, but little or no nutrients. Drinking alcohol is also the cause of many health problems and accidents and can lead to addiction. Balance the food you eat with physical activity. Maintain or improve your weight to reduce your chances of having high blood pressure, heart disease, a stroke, certain cancers, and the most common kind of diabetes.
Physical activity is important for a strong and healthy body.
Regular exercise helps utilize calories from the foods you eat. The exercise can be continuous or spread out over two or three times during the day. The Food Guide Pyramid is based on U.S. Government Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It is a graphic representation of a balanced diet, and is designed to help people choose healthful foods every day from the five major food groups. Food and Nutrient Intakes by Children 1994-1996, 1998.