U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Nutrition and Your Health:
Dietary Guidelines for Americans

 U.S. Department of Agriculture

PART E: TRANSLATING THE SCIENCE INTO DIETARY GUIDANCE

Table E-4. How Portion Sizes Have Changed

Food Item Calories per Portion 20 Years Ago Calories per Portion Today
Bagel
 140 calories (3 in. diameter) 350 calories (6 in. diameter)
Fast food cheeseburger
 333 calories 590 calories
Spaghetti and meatballs
 500 calories (1 cup of spaghetti with sauce and 3 small meatballs) 1,025 calories (2 cups of spaghetti and 3 large meatballs)
Bottle of soda
 85 calories (6.5 oz.) 250 calories (20 oz.)
Fast food French fries
 210 calories (2.4 oz) 610 calories (6.9 oz)
Turkey sandwich
 320 calories 820 calories (10 in. sub)

Adapted from the Portion Distortion Quiz on the NHLBI Web site.

Back to Top

Table of Contents

A. Executive Summary

B. Introduction

C. Methodology

D. Science Base
  •  
    		•  Section 1. Aiming To Meet Nutrient Intake Recommendations
     
  •  
    • Text
     
  •  
    • Tables
  •  
    		•  Section 2. Energy
  •  
    		•  Section 3. Discretionary Calories
  •  
    		•  Section 4. Fats
  •  
    		•  Section 5. Carbohydrates
  •  
    		•  Section 6. Selected Food Groups
  •  
    		•  Section 7. Fluid and Electrolytes
  •  
    		•  Section 8. Ethanol
  •  
    		•  Section 9. Food Safety
  •  
    		•  Section 10. Major Conclusions

    E.  Translating the Science into Dietary Guidance
        
  • Text
    		•
     
  • Tables and Figures
    		•

    F.  Research Recommendations

    G. Appendices
  •  
    		•  Glossary
  •  
    		•  Description of USDA Analyses
  •  
    		•  Summary Tables from Systematic Review
  •  
    		•  IOM Tables
    (Institute of Medicine tables referenced in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report are available at http://www.nap.edu)
  •  
    		•  History of Dietary Guidelines
  •  
    		•  Summary of Recommendations
  •  
    		•  Biographical Sketches of DGAC Members
  •  
    		•  Acknowledgements

    Read Public Comments