Most Americans have diets that are too high in fat, especially saturated fat.
With that in mind, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed its Food Guide Pyramid, an illustration that will help people choose what and how much to eat from each food group. Those who adhere to the general guidelines set forth by the Pyramid should get the nutrients they need without too many calories or too much fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, sodium or alcohol.
Forming the base of the pyramid is the Bread, Cereal, Rice and Pasta Group. USDA recommends the most (6 to 11) servings from this group each day because foods in this group are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates (important for energy, especially in low-fat diets), vitamins, minerals and fiber. At the same time, these foods are naturally low in fat, sugar and sodium. Fats and sugars that do occur in cereal products are the result of ingredients added in baking or serving the food.
What is One Serving?
For the purposes of the Food Guide Pyramid, one serving from the Breads, Cereals, Rice and Pasta Group is one slice of bread OR one ounce of ready-to-eat-cereal OR 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice or pasta. This may sound like a lot, but it's really not. For example, a slice of bread is one serving, so a sandwich for lunch and one slice of toast for breakfast are two more servings. And a snack of three or four crackers adds yet another serving.
By cutting fat and adding more cereal foods into your diet, you can enjoy better health and reduce your chances of getting certain diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers and the most common kind of diabetes.
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers