How do you know if you should be taking multivitamins? Well, your mom's nagging
you about it may be one clue. But you can also figure things out for yourself
by taking the following quiz. Answering these questions may help you calculate
whether you're getting enough essential vitamins and minerals through what you
eat—or whether you should think about heading for the vitamin aisle of
your local pharmacy or health food store.
Note: This quiz is for people who are not vegetarians or vegans. To learn more
about the specific nutrient needs of non-meat eaters, check out Vitamins
for Veggies.
Click on "true" or "false" after each of the following questions. If you need
help figuring out what a serving is, you can refer to the Food
Guide Pyramid.
On most days I eat at least 3 servings
of fruit.
I am often on a diet and really
try to keep my calorie count down.
I generally eat the same foods
every day.
On most days I eat at least 9 servings
of grains, such as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta.
On most days I eat at least 4 servings
of vegetables.
Sometimes when I'm busy, I skip
meals. I frequently go an entire day without eating anything at all from one
or more of the following food groups:
- vegetables
- fruits
- grains, bread, cereal, rice, and pasta
- milk, yogurt, and cheese
- meat, poultry, fish, tofu, soy, eggs, nuts, dried beans
On most days I eat 2 servings of
lean meat, poultry, fish, tofu, dry beans, eggs, or nuts.
On most days I eat at least 3 servings
of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, or cheese.
