Manual of Clinical Nutrition

Hypertension

Manual of Clinical Nutrition Management III- 67 Copyright © 2013 Compass Group, Inc.

Food Group Daily Servings Serving Sizes Examples and Notes Significance to the
DASH Eating Plan
Vegetables Four to five 1 cup raw leafy
vegetables
½ cup cooked
vegetables
6 oz vegetable juice

Tomatoes, potatoes,

carrots, green peas,

squash, broccoli, turnip

greens, collard, kale,

spinach, artichokes,

green beans, lima

beans, sweet potatoes

Rich sources of
potassium,
magnesium, and
fiber
Select lower salt
canned vegetables
or tomato juice.
Fruits Four to five 6 oz fruit juice
One medium fruit
¼ cup dried fruit
½ cup fresh,
frozen, or canned
fruit

Apricots, bananas, dates,

grapes, oranges, orange

juice, grapefruit,

grapefruit juice,

mangoes, melons,

peaches, pineapples,

prunes, raisins,

strawberries,

tangerines

Important sources of

potassium,

magnesium, and

fiber

Low-fat or fat-
free dairy

Two to three 8 oz milk

1 cup yogurt

1½ oz cheese

Fat-free or low-fat (1%)

milk, fat-free or low-fat

buttermilk, fat-free or

low-fat regular or

frozen yogurt, fat-free

or low-fat cheese

Major sources of
calcium and
protein
Monitor sodium
content of
processed cheeses
(600 mg of
sodium) and
natural cheeses
(110-450 mg of
sodium)
Meats, poultry,
and fish

Two or less 3 oz cooked meat,

poultry, or fish

Select only lean meats;

trim away visible fats;

broil, roast, or boil,

instead of frying;

remove skin from

poultry

Rich sources of
protein and
magnesium
Limit ham and
processed meats
that contain
sodium
Nuts, seeds, and
dry beans

Four to five per

week

1/3 cup or 1½ oz

nuts

2 tbsp or ½ oz

seeds

½ cup cooked dry

beans or peas

Almonds, filberts, mixed

nuts, peanuts, walnuts,

sunflower seeds,

kidney beans, lentils

Rich sources of
energy,
magnesium,
potassium, protein,
and fiber
Select unsalted
versions
Fats and oilsb Two to three 1 tsp soft
margarine
1 tbsp low-fat
mayonnaise
2 tbsp light salad
dressing
1 tsp vegetable oil

Soft margarine, low-fat

mayonnaise, light salad

dressing, vegetable oil

(such as olive, corn,

canola, or safflower oil)

DASH has 27% of
total energy as fat,
including fat in or
added to foods
Select low-salt
versions of
dressing
Sweets Five per week 1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp jelly or jam
½ oz jelly beans
8 oz lemonade

Maple syrup, sugar, jelly,

jam, fruit-flavored

gelatin, jelly beans,

hard candy, fruit

punch, sorbet, ices

Sweets should be low

in fat

aOne ounce equals ½ to 1¼ cups, depending on the type of cereal. Check the product’s Nutrition Facts label.
bFat content changes serving counts for fats and oils. For example, 1 tbsp of regular salad dressing equals one serving; 1 tbsp of low-fat
dressing equals one half of a serving; and 1 tbsp of fat-free dressing equals zero servings.