Serving size
Encyclopedia
The serving size of a food product is a confusing term, as it is found both on the Food Pyramid
and on Nutrition
Labels and has two related but differing meanings. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion sets the standards for these meanings in the United States
.
According to the USDA, serving sizes in the Pyramid are determined through four factors:
Some food groups receive different emphasis than others. See Food Pyramid
for recommended daily servings.
vs. Diet Coke
or Fruit Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
, the label is not meant for direct comparison with the Food Pyramid's recommended servings.
A "serving size" according to a package may bear little resemblance to the amount of the food which most people eat at a time. The variation in caloric content per serving from product to product is normally because of the reference amount, not because of any set value or common unit.
Reference amounts affect serving sizes in one of three ways:
One serving of grain: one cup of whole grain cereal, one fourth of a bagel, one cup of pasta.
One serving of vegetables: five cherry tomatoes, five sticks of celery, one whole carrot.
One serving of fruit: a medium apple, fifteen large grapes, half a banana.
One serving of dairy: one cup of milk, three cheese cubes, half cup of low fat cottage cheese.
One serving of meat: 1/4 chicken breast, daily guide line: one fist full per meal.
Fats and Sugars: as little as possible, dairy and meat contain plenty of necessary fat, while fruits contain enough natural sugars.
First-time dieters can find the process of calculating serving sizes and calorie counting confusing, and due to the nature of the sheer volume of variety of supermarket products, serving sizes are commonly inaccurate.
How is "serving size" on the nutrition label determined?
Food guide pyramid
A food guide pyramid is a triangular or pyramid-shaped nutrition guide divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group. The first food pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The most widely known food pyramid was introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture...
and on Nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
Labels and has two related but differing meanings. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion sets the standards for these meanings in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Food Pyramid
The purpose of The Food Pyramid is to assist people in meeting daily nutrient recommendations while providing relatively few serving sizes for each food group.According to the USDA, serving sizes in the Pyramid are determined through four factors:
- Consideration of typical portion sizes from food consumption surveys.
- Convenience in relation to common measuring sizes.
- Nutrient content.
- Sizes from previous guides.
Some food groups receive different emphasis than others. See Food Pyramid
Food guide pyramid
A food guide pyramid is a triangular or pyramid-shaped nutrition guide divided into sections to show the recommended intake for each food group. The first food pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The most widely known food pyramid was introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture...
for recommended daily servings.
Nutrition Facts Label
Nutrition Facts Label Serving Sizes are specific in their nutritional information to allow for easy comparison with other similar foods. Consumers may visualize important nutritional variations without excessive calculation. While designed for easy comparison with other similar products, such as CokeCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
vs. Diet Coke
Diet Coke
Diet Coke is a sugar-free soft drink produced and distributed by The Coca-Cola Company. It was first introduced in the United States on August 9, 1982, as the first new brand since 1886 to use the Coca-Cola trademark...
or Fruit Loops vs. Frosted Flakes
Frosted Flakes
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes is a breakfast cereal first introduced by the Kellogg Company. It consists of corn flakes "frosted" or coated with sugar. The "Frosted Flakes" name is used by Kellogg's in United States and Canada. The cereal was first introduced in 1951 as Sugar Frosted Flakes...
, the label is not meant for direct comparison with the Food Pyramid's recommended servings.
A "serving size" according to a package may bear little resemblance to the amount of the food which most people eat at a time. The variation in caloric content per serving from product to product is normally because of the reference amount, not because of any set value or common unit.
Reference amounts affect serving sizes in one of three ways:
- Bulk products, such as sugar, have sizes in common units of measurement, such as the cup or tablespoon, to show the quantity closest to the reference amount.
- Commonly divided products, such as pie or cake, have a serving size given in a fraction of the whole product (e.g., 1/8 pizza).
- Products which are sliced beforehand or are bought in distinct, grouped units (such as olives), are listed in the approximate number of units corresponding to the reference amount. For example, if the reference amount for olives were 30 g, and one olive weighed 10 g, the serving size would probably be listed as three olives.
One serving of grain: one cup of whole grain cereal, one fourth of a bagel, one cup of pasta.
One serving of vegetables: five cherry tomatoes, five sticks of celery, one whole carrot.
One serving of fruit: a medium apple, fifteen large grapes, half a banana.
One serving of dairy: one cup of milk, three cheese cubes, half cup of low fat cottage cheese.
One serving of meat: 1/4 chicken breast, daily guide line: one fist full per meal.
Fats and Sugars: as little as possible, dairy and meat contain plenty of necessary fat, while fruits contain enough natural sugars.
First-time dieters can find the process of calculating serving sizes and calorie counting confusing, and due to the nature of the sheer volume of variety of supermarket products, serving sizes are commonly inaccurate.
How is "serving size" on the nutrition label determined?