The Food Pyramid

Eat a variety of food to get the vitamins and minerals you need. Eat more from the groups at the bottom of the pyramid, and less from the groups at the top.

How much should I eat each day?

Have about 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day if you are:

• a small woman who exercises
• a small or medium woman who wants to lose weight
• a medium woman who does not exercise much

Talk with your diabetes teacher to make a meal plan that fits the way you usually eat, your daily routine, and your diabetes medicines. Then make your own plan.

Have about 1,600 to 2,000 calories a day if you are:

• a large woman who wants to lose weight
• a small man at a healthy weight
• a medium man who does not exercise much
• a medium to large man who wants to lose weight

Talk with your diabetes teacher to make a meal plan that fits the way you usually eat, your daily routine, and your diabetes medicines. Then make your own plan.

Have about 2,000 to 2,400 calories a day if you are

• a medium to large man who does a lot of exercise or has a physically active job
• a large man at a healthy weight
• a large woman who exercises a lot or has a physically active job

Talk with your diabetes teacher to make a meal plan that fits the way you usually eat, your daily routine, and your diabetes medicines. Then make your own plan.

Print out this pyramid and fill in the numbers of servings next to the name of each food group.

Each day, I need: