Meat and Beans Food Group

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What foods are included in the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts (meat & beans) group?

All foods made from meat, poultry, fish, dry beans or peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds are considered part of this group. Dry beans and peas are part of this group as well as the vegetable group.

Most meat and poultry choices should be lean or low-fat. Fish, nuts, and seeds contain healthy oils, so choose these foods frequently instead of meat or poultry.

Some commonly eaten choices in the Meat and Beans group, with selection tips, are:

Meats*

Lean cuts of:
beef
ham
lamb
pork
veal
Game meats:
bison
rabbit
venison

Lean ground meats:
beef
pork
lamb

Lean luncheon meats
Organ meats:
liver
giblets

Eggs*

chicken eggs
duck eggs

Poultry*

chicken
duck
goose
turkey
ground chicken
ground turkey

Nuts & seeds*

almonds
cashews
hazelnuts
mixed nuts
peanuts
peanut butter
pecans
pistachios
pumpkin seeds
sesame seeds
sunflower seeds
walnuts

Nuts & seeds*

almonds
cashews
hazelnuts
mixed nuts
peanuts
peanut butter
pecans
pistachios
pumpkin seeds
sesame seeds
sunflower seeds
walnuts

Dry beans and peas:

black beans
black-eyed peas
chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
falafel
kidney beans
lentils
lima beans (mature)
navy beans
pinto beans
soy beans
split peas
tofu
white beans

Fish*

Finfish such as:
catfish
cod
flounder
haddock
halibut
herring
mackerel
Pollock
porgy
salmon
sea bass
snapper
swordfish
trout
tuna

Shellfish such as:
clams
crab
crayfish
lobster
mussels
octopus
oysters
scallops
squid (calamari)
shrimp

Canned fish such as:
anchovies
clams
tuna
sardines

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