Nutrition Nutrition The Food Groups Serving Sizes Food Pyramid Picture What counts as a serving? Grain Products Group (bread, cereal, rice, and pasta) 1 slice of bread 1 ounce of ready-to-eat cereal 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta Vegetable Group 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables 1/2 cup of other vegetables -- cooked or chopped raw 3/4 cup of vegetable juice Fruit Group 1 medium apple, banana, orange 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit 3/4 cup of fruit juice Milk Group (milk, yogurt, and cheese) 1 cup of milk or yogurt 1-1/2 ounces of natural cheese 2 ounces of processed cheese Meat and Beans Group (meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts) 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or 1 egg counts as 1 ounce of lean meat. Two tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup of nuts count as 1 ounce of meat. Some foods fit into more than one group. Dry beans, peas, and lentils can be counted as servings in either the meat and beans group or vegetable group. These "cross over" foods can be counted as servings from either one or the other group, but not both. These servings are part of the Food Pyramid which is illustrated here