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Food Group for Weight Loss

The below list is a guideline of alternatives to the items in the meal plans in the diet sheet. It is recommended that you vary your diet, and where it is listed in the meal plans to have e.g. a cup of broccoli you can switch this with the vegetables listed out below. The guideline foods: carbohydrate, protein, fat and kcal values are approximate values only, and are laid out to help you create the most varied enjoyable diet possible.

SKIMMED MILK GROUP

Each contains 12g carbohydrate, 8g protein, 0.5-5g fat and 87 – 124kcal approx.

Milk is your best source of calcium. It is also a good source of protein, phosphorous, B complex vitamins and vitamin A and D.

 

Household measure

Metric measure

Skimmed milk

1 cup

250ml

Skimmed milk powder

2 tbsp.

25g

Fat free natural yoghurt (made from skim milk)

1 cup

250ml

Soy milk

1 cup

250ml

Soy milk powder

2 tbsp.

25g


FRUIT GROUP

Each contains 10g carbohydrate and 40kcal approx.

Fruits are valuable sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre (especially vitamin C in citrus fruit and fruit juices).

Fruit may be used fresh, dried or canned as long as no sugar is added.

 

Household measure

Metric measure

Apple - fresh/tinned

1 small

110g

Apple - dried

5 rings

15g

Apple sauce, unsweetened

½ cup

125ml

Apricot - fresh/tinned

2 medium

100g

Apricot - dried

4 halves

20g

*Banana - fresh

1 small/

80g

½ medium

 

Berries - fresh/tinned

¼ cup

120g

Cherries - fresh/tinned

10 large

100g

*Currants - dried

1 heaped tbsp.

15g

Dates - dried

2-3 medium

15g

Fig - fresh/tinned

1 large

60g

Fig - dried

1 large

15g

Fruit salad - fresh

2 heaped tbsp.

70g

Gooseberries – fresh / tinned

¾ cup

120g

Passion fruit – fresh / tinned

6 medium

100g

Grapefruit – fresh / tinned

½ large

150g

*Grapes - fresh

10 medium

60g

Guava - fresh

2 small

100g

Kiwi fruit - fresh

1 medium

90g

Lychees - fresh

5-6 medium

90g

Mango - fresh

1 small

85g

Mulberry - fresh

1 cup

100g

Orange - fresh

1 small

130g

Papaya - fresh, cubed

⅔ cup

90g

Peach – fresh / t

inned

1 medium

115g

Peach - dried

2 halves

20g

Pear – fresh / tinned

1 small

90g

Pear - dried

2 halves

15g

Pineapple - fresh

½ cup

90g

Pineapple - tinned

3 rings,

90g

Plum - fresh

2 medium/3-4 small

100g

Pomegranate - fresh

 small

135g

Prune - dried

2 medium

20g

*Raisins/sultanas - dried

25ml/2 tbsp.

15g

Raspberries - fresh

½ cup

80g

Strawberries - fresh

1 cup/12 medium

150g

Sweetmelon - fresh

¼/150mm diameter

150g

*Watermelon - fresh, cubed

¼ cup

130g

*Fruit juices - fresh, unsweetened

⅓ cup

80ml

*These fruit are naturally high in glucose and should therefore be limited. Please note: all very ripe fruit/tomatoes should be avoided due to high glucose content.



STARCH GROUP

Each unit contains 15g carbohydrate, 2g protein and 68kcal.

Wholewheat products and legumes/ pulses are good sources of fibre, B complex vitamins and iron.


 

Household measure

Metric measure

CRACKERS AND BREAD

Rye Bread

1 slice

30g

Rice / corn cakes

3

30g

Cracker Bread (maize variant)

3

30g

STARCH AND STARCHY VEGETABLES (cooked)

Rice/pasta/ maize/corn kennels

½ cup

125g

Boiled/baked potato

1 medium

80g

Mashed potato

½ cup

125ml

Sweet potato

¼ cup

65g

Sweetcorn (canned without sugar)

½ cup

90g

Popcorn (unsweetened)

3 cups

55g

Barley

½ cup

60g

CEREAL AND PORRIDGE (STARCH)

Raw Oats

¼ cup

25g

Traditional Muesli

½ cup

50g



MEAT/ PROTEIN GROUP

All the foods in the meat group are good sources of protein and many are also good sources of iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and other B-complex vitamins.

Cholesterol is of animal origin. Foods of plant origin have no cholesterol. Be certain to trim off all visible fat and to remove the skin off poultry before cooking.

LOW FAT MEAT GROUP

Each cooked serving contains 7g protein, 3g fat and 55kcal approx.

Legumes/pulses contain a minimum amount of fat and large amounts of carbohydrates in varying amounts.

 

Household measure

Metric measure

Baked beans / butter beans

⅓ cup

90g

Dried beans e.g. kidney / haricot / chickpeas / split peas/

 

lentils

⅓ cup

70g

Soya beans

¼ cup

40g

Egg whites

2 whites

 

Fat free cottage cheese

¼ cup

65g

Rump / sirloin steak

-

30g

Lean mince

2 level

tsp.

30g

Roast beef

-

30g

Steak and kidney stew

1 heaped tbsp.

40g

Veal

-

30g

Venison, lean

1 heaped tbsp.

30g

Ham,

 lean

2 thin slices

40g

Pork,

roast

-

30g

Mutton, roast

-

30g

Chicken

(skinless)

 -

 

-          Drumstick

1 small

40g

-          Wing

1 small

40g

-          Breast

small

40g

-          Thigh

½ medium

40g

Turkey (skinless)

-

40g

Kidney, lamb

1 kidney

30g

Kidney, beef

¼ kidney

30g

Liver, beef and lamb

-

30g

Meat spreads e.g. liver pate

6 level tsp.

30g

Crab, tinned

½ cup

70g

Haddock

7x6x1,5cm

50g

Mussels / oysters, tinned or fresh

⅔ tin

70g

Pilchards in tomato sauce

½ pilchard

40g

Prawns, boiled

3 medium / 7 small / 2 large

50g

Rock lobster

½ tail

60g

Shrimps

20-25

50g

Sardines in brine, drained

2

30g

Sole,

 steamed

1 baby

60g

Trout, steamed

5x6,

x3cm

40g

Tuna, canned in water/ brine

2 heaped tbsp. (½ tin)

40g

Hake / Cod

5x5,5x3cm

70g

 

 

 



MEDIUM FAT MEAT GROUP

Each contains 7g protein, 5g fat and 74kcal approx.

 

Household measure

Metric measure

cheese, low fat

3x3x3cm

30g

cheese spread

6 level tsp.

30g

Egg, whole

1 medium

50g

Braised beef

12x6x0.5cm

30g

Lean oxtail

5x5cm

30g

Ham, regular

2 thin slices

40g

Pork chops

⅓ medium

30g

Mutton chops - loin chops

⅓ medium

30g

- rib chops

1 small

30g

Calamari, fried

½ cup

50g

Kipper/ herring

12x7x1cm

50g

Herring, pickled

12x4,5x1cm

30g

Caviar, fresh

2 tbsp.

35g

Salmon, canned

¼ tin

50g

Sardines in oil, drained

2

0g




VEGETABLE GROUP

RESTRICTED VEGETABLES

Each unit contains 7g carbohydrate, 2g protein and 36kcal approx.

Vegetables are good sources of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Choose at least one green and one other coloured vegetable every day. Do not overcook vegetables and try to eat as much fresh vegetables as possible.

 

Household measure

Metric measure

Beetroot

½ cup

100g

Butternut squash

⅓ cup

70g

Carrots, cooked

⅔ cup

100g

Carrots, raw and grated

¾ cup

140g

Free vegetables, cooked with onion and potato

¾ cup

130g

Mixed vegetables

⅓ cup

65g

Onions, raw and cooked

½ cup

65g

Peas

⅓ cup

65g

Pumpkin

⅓ cup

70g

Unthickened vegetable soup

¾ cup

-

Thickened gravy/sauce

2 tbsp.

25ml

Tomato paste

1 tbsp.

15g

Tomato puree

⅓ cup

70g



FREE VEGETABLES

If portion per meal exceeds 1 cup, count as restricted vegetable.


Artichokes

Egg plant

Radishes

Asparagus

Rhubarb

Baby marrow

Sour Cabbage

Broccoli

Green beans

Shallots

Brussels sprouts

Pepper

Spinach

Cabbage

Leeks

Spring onions

Cauliflower

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Celery

Marrow

Turnip

Chicory

Mushrooms

Watercress

Cucumber

Parsley

 




FAT GROUP

Each contains 5g fat and 45kcal approx.

This group is high in fat-soluble vitamins. Take 3 servings daily (women) and 5 servings daily (men)

 

Household measure

Metric measure

Avocado

¼ small

30g

Bacon

1 rasher

10g

Butter

1 tsp.

5ml/g

Cream - thin

2 tbsp.

25ml

      - thick

1 tbsp.

12,5ml

*Margarine - soft tub

1 tsp.

5ml/g

*            - ‘light’

1½ tsp.

7.5ml

Mayonnaise

 

 

             - *Light/low fat

2 tbsp.

25g/ml

Oil - *sunflower, soya or maize

1 tsp.

5ml

      - peanut, coconut or *olive

1 tsp.

5ml

Olives

9 medium

45g

Salad dressing - *French type

1 tbsp.

12,5ml


*These fats are preferable (especially on a low fat diet). The other food items should not be eaten more than once per month.