Appendix E-3.7.A1. USDA Food Patterns: Healthy Vegetarian Patterns—recommended intake amounts

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Calorie Level of Patterna 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000 2,200 2,400 2,600 2,800 3,000 3,200
 Food Group Daily Amountb of Food From Each Group (vegetable and protein foods subgroup amounts are per week)
Fruits 1 c 1 c 1½ c 1½ c 1½ c 2 c 2 c 2 c 2 c 2½ c 2½ c 2½ c
Vegetables 1 c 1½ c 1½ c 2 c 2½ c 2½ c 3 c 3 c 3½ c 3½ c 4 c 4 c
    Dark green veg (c/wk) ½ 1 1 2 2
    Red/Orange veg (c/wk) 3 3 4 6 6 7 7
    Beans and peas (c/wk) ½ ½ ½ 1 2 2 3 3
    Starchy veg (c/wk) 2 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8
    Other veg (c/wk) 4 4 5 5 7 7
Grains 3 oz eq 4 oz eq 5 oz eq 5½ oz eq 6½ oz eq 6½ oz eq 7½ oz eq 8½ oz eq 9½ oz eq 10½ oz eq 10½ oz eq 10½ oz eq
    Whole grains 1½ oz eq 2 oz eq 2½ oz eq 3½ oz eq 3½ oz eq 3½ oz eq 4 oz eq 4½ oz eq 5 oz eq 5½ oz eq 5½ oz eq 5½ oz eq
    Other grains 1½ oz eq 2 oz eq 2½ oz eq 2 oz eq 3 oz eq 3 oz eq 3½ oz eq 4 oz eq 4½ oz eq 5 oz eq 5 oz eq 5 oz eq
Protein Foods 1½ oz eq 1½ oz eq 2 oz eq 2½ oz eq 3 oz eq 3½ oz eq 4 oz eq 4 oz eq 5 oz eq 5 oz eq 5½ oz eq 5½ oz eq
    Beans and peas (oz eq/wk)c 2 2 4 4 6 6 8 8 10 10 12 12
    Eggs (oz eq/wk) 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4
    Nuts and seeds (oz eq/wk) 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
    Tofu/processed soy (oz eq/wk) 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Dairy 2 c 2.5 c 2.5 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c 3 c
Oils (g) 15 17 17 22 24 27 29 31 34 36 44 51
Limits for solid fats and added sugars
Solid fats (g) 11 11 12 12 12 19 19 23 23 23 27 34
Added Sugars (g) 19 19 20 21 20 32 32 39 40 40 46 59

a. Food intake patterns at 1000, 1200, and 1400 calories are designed to meet the nutritional needs of 2- to 8-year-old children. Patterns from 1600 to 3200 calories are designed to meet the nutritional needs of children 9 and older and adults. If a child 4 to 8 years of age needs more calories and, therefore, is following a pattern at 1600 calories or more, his recommended amount from the milk group should be 2.5 cups per day. Children 9 and older and adults should not use the 1000, 1200, or 1400 calorie patterns.

b. Food group amounts shown in cup (c) or ounce equivalents (oz eq). Oils, solid fats, and asdded sugars are shown in grams (g).

Quantity equivalents for each food group are:

  • Grains, 1 ounce equivalent is: ½ cup cooked rice, pasta, or cooked cereal; 1 ounce dry pasta or rice; 1 slice bread; 1 cup RTE cereal flakes.
  • Fruits and vegetables, 1 cup equivalent is: 1 cup raw or cooked fruit or vegetable, 1 cup fruit or vegetable juice, 2 cups leafy salad greens.
  • Protein Foods, 1 ounce eq.is: 1 oz lean meat, poultry, seafood; 1 egg; ¼ cup cooked beans or tofu; 1 Tbsp peanut butter; ½ ounce nuts/seeds.
  • Dairy, 1 cup equivalent is: 1 cup milk or yogurt, 1½ ounces natural cheese (e.g. Cheddar cheese) or 2 ounces of processed cheese.

 

c. About half of total beans and peas are shown as vegetables, in cup eqs, and half as protein foods, in ounce eqs. Total beans and peas in cup eq is amount in vegetables plus the amount in protein foods/4:

  1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000 2,200 2,400 2,600 2,800 3,000 3,200
Total beans/peas (c eq/ wk) 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6