An 8-oz glass of milk, a 3-oz slice of cooked meat,
an apple, a slice of bread. What food values does
each contain? How much cooked meat will a pound
of raw meat yield? How much protein should a
healthy 14-year-old boy get each day?
Consumers want ready answers to questions like
these so they can plan nutritious diets for
themselves and their families. Also, nutritionists,
dietitians, and other health professionals use this
type of information in their daily work.
In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
published the first edition of this bulletin in 1960.
USDA nutrition researchers have revised it many
times since to reflect our expanded knowledge, to
add or subtract specific values, and to update the
ever-growing list of available, commonly used
foods.