# Question about serving size and the food pyramid
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 21, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024 "2007-09-21T20:00:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/1 "2007-09-21T20:00:18Z")
On the “Nutrition Facts” label that is on most packaged foods in the US, where it lists “serving size”, does that correspond to a “serving” as listed on the [Food Pyramid](http://www.weightlossresource.com/images/food-pyramid.gif) , or is it just whatever the manufacturer thinks is a reasonable serving size?
---
### Author:  [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/2 "2007-09-21T20:43:44Z")
I am not an expert, but I believe the “serving size” as listed on a nutrition panel is solely in regards to the information in the panel. Example: if the nutrition panel lists 250 calories per serving, the serving size it the amount of the product it takes to equal 250 calories. It has nothing at all to do with the amount of the product a person will usually consume as a serving.
Research: I have a container of Mayfield brand Cookies and Cream ice cream in my freezer. (Blame Mr. SCL. I didn’t buy it but I will help eat it.) It says it has 160 calories per serving, with a serving size being 1/2 cup. How many people do you know that sit down to eat ice cream and only eat 1/2 cup?
---
### Author:  [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/3 "2007-09-21T20:43:44Z")
sorry - double post.
I also think this type of labeling is misleading.
---
### Author:  [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/4 "2007-09-21T20:56:31Z")
Hell, yeah! We all know that one container of ice cream = 1 serving. The ice cream people know it, too, so I don’t know who they think they’re fooling.
---
### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/5 "2007-09-21T21:10:39Z")
\*\*SnakesCatLady \*\*is right, but doesn’t really answer the question.
Yes, as far as I’ve observed, the serving size on the nutritional information labels does match the serving size the food pyramid is referring to: about 1 ounce of cheese, 1/2 cup of most cooked vegetables, 3 or 4 ounces of meat, 1 ounce of most grains (about 10-15 crackers or chips), etc. I’ve been doing Weight Watchers for a few months now, so I’ve become an avid label reader.
---
### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/6 "2007-09-21T21:16:12Z")
People still follow / learn / teach that Food Pyramid nonsense?
---
### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/7 "2007-09-21T21:27:27Z")
The FDA has standards on serving sizes.
> [@](#):
>
> The serving size is the basis for reporting each food’s nutrient content. However, unlike in the past, when the serving size was up to the discretion of the food manufacturer, serving sizes now are more uniform and reflect the amounts people actually eat. They also must be expressed in both common household and metric measures.
[http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdnewlab.html](http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdnewlab.html)
The rules
> **[CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.12)**
```auto
Ice cream, ice milk, frozen 1/2 cup-includes _ piece(s) (_ g) for
yogurt, sherbet: all the volume for individually wrapped
types, bulk and novelties coatings and or packaged
(e.g., bars, sandwiches, wafers for the products; 1/2 cup (_
cones). novelty type g) for others
varieties.
```
I hope you are following regulations and only having 1/2 cup.
---
### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/8 "2007-09-21T22:38:34Z")
[QUOTE=Epimetheus]
People still follow / learn / teach that Food Pyramid nonsense?
[/QUOTE]
Getting into debate territory, but why is it nonsense? Lower oil and fat, five or more fruits and veggies. Seems reasonable.
---
### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/9 "2007-09-21T22:54:41Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho]
```auto
I hope you are following regulations and only having 1/2 cup.
[/QUOTE]
Or "counting it" as two (or more) servings.
**Epimetheus** , the old food pyramid has been [replaced](http://www.welfare.state.nv.us/elig_pay/images/MyPyrLarge.jpg) with an even more graphically unfortunate one which tries to incorporate exercise. While I didn't find either one to be useful in a learning-about-food-choices sense, the underlying message: less fats, more vegetables, moderate protein, is not a bad one. The 1992 one at least differentiated between refined and whole grain products.
I personally find the "clock face" on my plate to be a more effective visual tool for teaching portion control and food choices: From the 12 to the six should go vegetables, from the 6 to the 9, whole grains, and the 9 to the 11 protein. Desert (unless it's plain fruit) goes from 11 to 12.
And, needless to say, the plate should not be the size of a hubcap! :D
```
---
### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/10 "2007-09-21T23:06:52Z")
[QUOTE=gigi]
Getting into debate territory, but why is it nonsense? Lower oil and fat, five or more fruits and veggies. Seems reasonable.
[/QUOTE]
Because it is outdated, inaccurate and just generally sucks. Granted not everybody can follow all the micro and macro nutrients, nor does everybody want to, but the Food pyramid doesn’t even come close to helping people eat better, it is just a pretty chart that does nothing to educate people on how to eat healthy.
I see the new chart is marginally better anyhow.
---
### Author:  [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/11 "2007-09-21T23:19:15Z")
In at least some cases serving size will not correspond to a food pyramid serving. Foods such as soup, lasagna, sandwiches, etc. are made up of multiple types of food, so they are part grain, part vegetable, maybe part dairy.
---
### Author:  [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-serving-size-and-the-food-pyramid/420024/12 "2007-09-21T23:22:53Z")
I always thought 1/2 cup ice cream corresponded to about a scoop and that was why they chose it.