Scaling the vegan pyramid.

If you paid attention in elementary school then you remember the food pyramid. It was the chart that should you what your daily intake should be.

Well, obviously, vegans -- those who don't eat meat (many others don't eat dairy or egg as well) -- can't eat a lot of the items mentioned on the traditional pyramid. Fortunately, these folks have their own pyramid to follow, one that is true to their vegan regimen.

What's On the Vegan Food Pyramid?

The regular pyramid categories of dairy and meat don't exist on the vegan food pyramid. Instead, they have been replaced with healthier and more planet-friendly alternatives.

Here are the foods you need as well as the serving recommendations:

Legumes (At least 2 servings daily)

1 serving = 1/2 cup beans,1 cup of soy milk or 4 oz. of tofu.

Legumes replace the protein found in meat. Lentils, beans, peas, tofu and soy are all good tradeouts, rich in protein. They are also loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Vegetables (At least 3 servings daily)

1 serving = 1 cup vegetables if raw, 1/2 cup cooked.

This seems like a no-brainer in a vegan diet. But not all vegetables are created equal. The greener they are, the more vitamins and minerals they have. Round out your servings of green vegetables with ones that are dark orange (think carrots) and yellow (squash).

Fruit (At least 3 servings daily)

1 serving = 1/2 cup fruit (cooked), 4 oz. juice or 1 piece of raw whole fruit.

Fruit is nature's great dessert and it's loaded with vitamins, particularly Vitamin C, as well as fiber.

Whole Grains (At least 6 servings daily)

1 serving = 1 slice of bread, 1/2 cup cooked grains or pasta, 1 oz. of cereal or other dry grains.

Whole grains are the foundation of a solid vegan diet. Pasta, rice, cereal, bread, tortillas, barley and other whole grains are good choices. The fiber will keep your body working like a well-oiled machine. If you want a little extra benefit, go with brown rice instead of white.