What Are the Six Basic Food Groups?
The United States Department of Agriculture identifies six basic food groups, part of the food pyramid. The foods in these groups should all be part of a healthy diet.
Fruits
Fruits must be 100 percent fruit to be in this group; fuit juice and canned fruits are in this group. Surprisingly, avocados are part of this group.
Grains
Grains include whole grains such as brown rice, oatmeal and bulgur. Grains also include refined grains such as white flour, white bread and white rice.
Meat and Beans
This group includes dried beans and peas, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds. Canned fish is also part of this group.
Milk
This group includes milk and milk products, such as cheese and yogurt. Milk can be soy or lactose-free milk. Milk products in this group must keep their calcium content.
Oils
To be in this group, oils must not be solid. Vegetable oils make up the largest part of this group, but the oils from nuts, olives, some fish and avocados are also part of it.
Vegetables
There are five types of vegetables: dark green, starchy, dried peas and beans, orange and other vegetables.
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