Pack a Balanced
Pantry Bag
The chart below represents a pantry bag designed to follow MyPlate nutrition
recommendations. The chart shows approximate amounts of food needed to provide:
9 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 days) for 2 people
Food Group
Grains
Vegetables and
Fruits
Proteins-Meats,
Non-Meat and
Dairy
Food Type and Serving Size
Recommended Quantity
Bread (loaf)
6 Rolls/pita/English muffins/bagels/tortilla (bag)
Oats, farina, grits (box)
Ready-to-eat cereal (box)
Pasta/noodles (1 lb box /bag)
Rice (1 lb bag)
Fresh (4 pieces, one bunch, one pound)
Sauce (15 oz jar/can)
Frozen (16 oz)
Dried (15 oz)
100% Juice (46 oz)-limit to 1 per household
Stews/chili/meatballs (15 oz can)
Canned Chicken/Tuna/Sardines-5 oz. (1 can)
Frozen meats (1 lb package)
Eggs (1/2 dozen)
Salmon/mackerel (15 oz can)
Dried beans/peas (1 lb bag)
Canned beans- (15 oz)
Peanut butter (18 oz jar)
Powdered Milk (1 qt envelope)
Liquid Milk 1% or non fat (32 oz box-1 quart)
Soy Milk (1 qt container)
Mozzarella/Cheddar/Swiss Cheese (8 oz)
3 items
9 items
6 items
Fruits and Vegetables High in Vitamins A & C
High in Vitamin A
Fruits
Vegetables
Dried Apricots, Apricot, Mango,
Peaches, Pineapple, and Watermelon
Sweet Potato (Yams), Carrot, Squash,
Greens, Spinach, Collards,
Leaf/Romaine Lettuce, Asparagus,
Broccoli, and Tomato
High in Vitamin C
Orange, Mandarin Oranges, Grapefruit,
Tangerines, Apricots, Plums, and Raspberries
Broccoli, Bell Peppers, Brussels Sprouts,
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Greens, Potatoes,
Tomatoes, Summer Squash, and Sweet
Potatoes (Yams)
Food Bank For New York City
39 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10006 (212) 566-7855
Pack a Balanced
Pantry Bag
The chart below represents a pantry bag designed to follow MyPlate nutrition
recommendations. The chart shows approximate amounts of food needed to provide:
9 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 days) for 4 people
Food Group
Grains
Vegetables and
Fruits
Proteins-Meats,
Non-Meat and
Dairy
Food Type and Serving Size
Recommended Quantity
Bread (loaf)
6 Rolls/pita/English muffins/bagels/tortilla (bag)
Oats, farina, grits (box)
Ready-to-eat cereal (box)
Pasta/noodles (1 lb box /bag)
Rice (1 lb bag)
Fresh (4 pieces, one bunch, one pound)
Sauce (15 oz jar/can)
Frozen (16 oz)
Dried (15 oz)
100% Juice (46 oz)-limit to 1 per household
Stews/chili/meatballs (15 oz can)
Canned Chicken/Tuna/Sardines-5 oz. (1 can)
Frozen meats (1 lb package)
Eggs (1/2 dozen)
Salmon/mackerel (15 oz can)
Dried beans/peas (1 lb bag)
Canned beans- (15 oz)
Peanut butter (18 oz jar)
Powdered Milk (1 qt envelope)
Liquid Milk 1% or non fat (32 oz box-1 quart)
Soy Milk (1 qt container)
Mozzarella/Cheddar/Swiss Cheese (8 oz)
6 items
18 items
12 items
Fruits and Vegetables High in Vitamins A & C
High in Vitamin A
Fruits
Vegetables
Dried Apricots, Apricot, Mango,
Peaches, Pineapple, and Watermelon
Sweet Potato (Yams), Carrot, Squash,
Greens, Spinach, Collards,
Leaf/Romaine Lettuce, Asparagus,
Broccoli, and Tomato
High in Vitamin C
Orange, Mandarin Oranges, Grapefruit,
Tangerines, Apricots, Plums, and Raspberries
Broccoli, Bell Peppers, Brussels Sprouts,
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Greens, Potatoes,
Tomatoes, Summer Squash, and Sweet
Potatoes (Yams)
Food Bank For New York City
39 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10006 (212) 566-7855