
Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideoOut 100
CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
If I ask you what you had for lunch yesterday, how long does it take you to remember'if you remember at all? Unless it was a special day or unless you eat the same lunch almost every day, you are likely to have to search your memory for a while before you can respond. Is what we feed ourselves so forgettable? Try filling in the questionnaire below to see if you consumed an adequate diet, say, yesterday. Fruits/Vegetables: How many half-cup fruit or vegetable servings? Protein Foods: How many three-ounce servings of meat, poultry, fish, or soy (a three-ounce serving is about the size of a deck of cards)? How many one-cup servings of cooked dried beans, peas, or lentils? Milk/Soy Milk How many one-cup servings of milk, yogurt, or soy milk? Grains/Starches How many half-cup servings of grains or starchy vegetables or slices of bread? Fluids How many cups of fluid did you consume yesterday (don't count any alcohol-containing drinks or coffee)? Others What did you eat that you can't easily fit into these food groups (usually condiments, snacks, mixed foods, and desserts)? Let's see how you did by comparing your numbers to some standard recommendations: fruits/vegetables, five to seven servings; protein foods, two to three; milk, yogurt, soy, two (men) or three (women); grains/starches, seven to 12; fluids, eight to 12 cups. Take a look at your completed analysis and decide where you do well, where you could use a little more, and where you might overconsume. Pay special attention to the fluids category. If you want to learn more about what you eat and if it is likely to meet your body's needs, there are things you can do: (1) keep a record of what you eat for a few days and (2) take your record to your dietitian to have it analyzed and compared to recommendations that are tailored to your special needs. A food record will contain all the foods and beverages you consume along with descriptions of how they are prepared and how much you consumed. The more detail you provide, the more accurate your results can be. Your dietitian can also estimate total calories, grams of protein, adequacy of micronutrients, and other benefits of the foods you eat. Because we tend to eat different foods from day to day, it is a good idea to provide at least three days of food records for a more complete evaluation. Once you know what you eat you are better equipped to make the choices that are likely to be best for you while you enjoy your food as one of life's great pleasures. Fields-Gardner is the director of services for HIV nutrition company Cutting Edge and is a member of the International AIDS Society and the American Dietetic Association's Dietetic Practice Group on HIV and AIDS. E-mail her at cade@hivplusmag.com.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lexi Love comes out as HIV+ after Trump deletes federal resources
January 23 2025 11:23 AM
Ricky Martin delivers showstopping performance for 2024 World AIDS Day
December 05 2024 12:08 PM
Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources
January 31 2025 5:29 PM
California confirms first case of even more deadly mpox strain
November 18 2024 3:02 PM
This long-term HIV survivor says testosterone therapy helped save his life.
December 16 2024 8:00 PM
Plus: Featured Video
Latest Stories
HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts
April 28 2025 2:11 PM
Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more
April 21 2025 4:10 PM
500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis
April 08 2025 3:51 PM
Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes
April 03 2025 7:15 PM
The Talk Season 5 premieres this spring with HIV guidance for the newly diagnosed
March 26 2025 1:00 PM
Discover the power of Wellness in your life
March 26 2025 12:41 PM
Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring
March 26 2025 12:20 PM
Jess King is here to help you live your happiest, healthiest life yet
March 24 2025 4:35 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Trump admin moves to end federal HIV prevention programs
March 18 2025 6:10 PM
Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times
March 11 2025 3:38 PM
Celebrating Black History Month with our annual African American issue
February 01 2025 3:28 PM
Tyler TerMeer vows to continue to fight for health care for all
January 28 2025 3:00 PM
Plus nominated for 2025 GLAAD Media Award
January 22 2025 12:42 PM
A camp for HIV-positive kids is for sale. Here's why its founder is celebrating
January 02 2025 12:21 PM
'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Trinity K Bonet quietly comes out trans
December 15 2024 6:27 PM
AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed at White House for the first time
December 02 2024 1:21 PM
Decades of progress, uniting to fight HIV/AIDS
December 01 2024 12:30 PM
Hollywood must do better on HIV representation
December 01 2024 9:00 AM
Climate change is disrupting access to HIV treatment
November 25 2024 11:05 AM
Post-election blues? Some advice from mental health experts
November 08 2024 12:36 PM