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. 2017 Mar 10;8(2):266–275. doi: 10.3945/an.116.013821

TABLE 3.

Daily food group amounts for USDA Healthy Eating Pattern modeled with the use of the AMDR for protein1

Protein level of pattern, %
Food group 18.22 18.83 30.03
Vegetables,4 cup equivalents 2.5 2.5 2.5
 Dark-green subgroup NS5 0.5 0.5
 Red and orange subgroup NS5 1.0 1.0
 Starchy subgroup NS5 1.0 1.0
Fruits,6 cup equivalents 2.0 2.0 2.0
Grains,7 ounce equivalents 6.0 6.0 6.0
 Whole grains 3.0 3.0 6.0
 Refined grains 3.0 3.0 0.0
Dairy,8 cup equivalents 3.0 3.0 3.0
Protein foods,9 ounce equivalents 5.5 5.5 12.0
1

All based on 2000 kcal/d. AMDR, Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range; NS, not specified.

2

DGA reference pattern reported in reference 3, Table A3–1.

3

Patterns modeled for current manuscript exercise.

4

One cup of raw, canned, frozen, or cooked vegetables; 2 cups of raw, leafy vegetables; 1 cup of cooked beans and peas; or 1 cup of 100% vegetable juice are defined as 1 cup equivalent of vegetables; cup weights range from 80 to 245 g, depending on vegetable selected.

5

Subgroups reported in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans on a weekly basis only.

6

One cup of raw, canned, or frozen fruit or 1 cup of 100% fruit juice is defined as 1 cup equivalent of fruit. The weights of 1 cup equivalents range from 70 to 250 g, depending on fruit selected.

7

For grain products made with flour (e.g., cakes and breads), each 16 g flour in the food defines 1 ounce equivalent of grain; for intact grains (e.g., oats, pasta, and rice), 28.35 g defines 1 ounce of grain equivalent.

8

One cup equivalent of dairy ranges in weight from 125 to 245 g for fluid products and from 28 to 127 g for solid or semisolid cheese.

9

One ounce equivalent of protein food is defined as 28.35 g cooked lean portion of meat, poultry, or seafood, 50 g egg, 14 g nuts and seeds, 16 g nut butters, or 175 g legumes.