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What is a Serving?
A serving is a specific amount of food, by which portions are measured. You may notice serving sizes on cereal boxes, etc. You will find the serving size mentioned on the label of food items. Serving is not the same as a “helping”. A helping is how much -- how many servings -- you actually put on your plate. A helping can be larger or smaller than an actual serving. You should consult the USDA website at http://www.mypyramid.gov/ to ensure you are getting the correct number and types of servings daily. See the chart and pyramid below for servings.
A Pyramid Serving |
A “Typical” Helping |
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½ cup rice |
1 cup of rice or pasta |
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½ medium bagel or hamburger bun |
1 bagel or hamburger bun |
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1 chicken leg or thigh |
¼ chicken |
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½ cup cooked red beans |
1-2 cups chili beans |
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1 cup leafy green vegetables |
2 cups greens |
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½ cup french fries |
¾ -1 cup french fries |
Samour, Patricia Queen, MMSc, RD; Dietitian’s Patient Education Resource Manual Second Edition; Aspen Publishers, New York, NY; 2003, p. 2:14.26.
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