Dietary Recommendations
The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily. This recommendation can vary based on age and gender, and is determined based upon standard portion sizes typically consumed, as well as general nutritional content. For most vegetables, one serving is equal to 1/2 cup and can be eaten raw or cooked. For leafy greens, such as lettuce and spinach, a single serving is typically 1 cup. Serving sizes for vegetable-derived products have not been definitively determined, but usually follow the 1/2 cup standard. Examples of vegetable-derived products subject to this standard are ketchup, pizza sauce, and tomato paste. Currently, there is no specific standard for measuring a vegetable serving in regards to its nutrient content, since different vegetables contain a wide variety of nutrients.
International dietary guidelines are similar to the ones established by the USDA. Japan, for example, recommends the consumption of 5 to 6 servings of vegetables daily. French dietary guidelines follow similar guidelines and set the daily goal at 5 servings.
Read more about this topic: Vegetable