Food pyramid (nutrition)

This 1992 food pyramid diagram can still be found on much of the food packaging in the United States

The improved American food guide pyramid, informally known as the food pyramid, was a nutrition guide created by the USDA. Released in 1992, the food pyramid suggested how much of each food category one should eat each day. The food guide pyramid replaced the food groups classification. On April 19, 2005, the USDA released the food guide pyramid's successor, MyPyramid.

• 5+ servings a day of vegetables, especially dark green vegetables and orange vegetables.

• 5+ servings of fruit a day are required, especially fresh and frozen fruits.

• 2-3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, or nuts a day, especially dry bean and peas, eggs, and nut and seeds.

• 2-3 servings of milk, cheese, yogurt or milk substitutes a day.

• Occasional use of fats, oils, and sweets, especially oils.

• 6-11 servings of grains a day, especially whole grains.

• 8+ glasses of water a day is best for peak energy all day long. it also helps to keep you hydrated.

the groups are:

• Oils, sweets & fats
• Milk cheese & yogurt
• Meat fish & poultry
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Bread cereals & pasta
• And sometimes Water

Federal dietary recommendations before 1992

The USDA and other U.S. federal bodies have been analyzing diet and issuing dietary recommendations since the early 20th century. The USDA, created in 1862, was set up to guarantee adequate food supply and to provide dietary advice (Nestle, 2003, 33). During the 1890s, the USDA conducted studies on the relationship between agriculture and human nutrition (Nestle, 2003, 33). W.O. Atwater was the first director of research activities. He published various tables for different American food types and dishes, which listed content of calories, protein, carbohydrate, fat, and mineral matters (Nestle, 2003, 33).

In 1917, the USDA published a pamphlet, How to Select Foods (Nestle, 2003, 34). This was the USDA's first publication of dietary recommendations which created the food-group format. In the 1920s the USDA suggested five food groups, but this changed soon (Nestle, 2003, 35). By the end of the 1930s there had been 12 suggested food groups (Nestle, 2003, 33).

Then, in 1940 what would eventually be known as the Food and Nutrition Board was created to aid and teach the government about nutrition problems which might have affected national defense (Nestle, 2003, 35).

In 1972 the USDA, in cooperation with the National 4-H Council, produced a children's television series, called Mulligan Stew, that taught four basic food groups to be eaten daily on a 4-4-3-2 pattern: "fruits and vegetables", "breads and cereals", "milk or cheese", and "meat, fish or fowl". This show continued to be aired until 1981.

Criticism of the 1992 Food Pyramid

To many nutritional experts, the 1992 pyramid did not reflect the latest research on dietetics. Certain dietary choices that have been linked to heart disease, such as three cups of whole milk and a 8 oz. serving of hamburger daily, were technically permitted under the pyramid. The major points of criticism have been the pyramid's lack of differentiation within the protein-rich group ("Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts"), some lack of clarity with regard to recommended serving sizes and the pyramid's lack of emphasis on whole grains.

Some of the recommended quantities for the different types of food in the old pyramid have also come under criticism for lack of clarity. For instance, the pyramid recommends two to three servings from the protein-rich group, but this is intended to be a maximum. The pyramid recommends two to four fruit servings, but this is intended to be a minimum.Another problem is that the pyramid does not distinguish between whole grains and refined grains. Since some vegetarian diets tend to be based on refined grains, it can skew perceptions significantly.

Notwithstanding such criticism, many agree that the 1992 USDA pyramid, as originally published, is a good guide to adequate nutrition. It helps people visualize the amount of food in each group that they need to eat in order to maintain their health, as it is easy to follow. If one or more important components are missing, one is able to fix it, and if they are overindulging in one or more components, they are able to reduce the amount easily.

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Harvard School of Public Health's Healthy Eating Pyramid

The Harvard School of Public Health proposes the Healthy eating pyramid, which includes calcium and multi-vitamin supplements as well as moderate amounts of alcohol, as an alternative to the Food Guide Pyramid.

Many observers believe that the Harvard pyramid follows the results of nutrition studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals more closely. Some claim that the USDA was and is unduly influenced by political pressure exerted by food production associations.

See also

• Canada's Food Guide
• Healthy diet
• Food groups

References

Nestle, Marion. Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2003.

• [1] The original Swedish Food pyramid from 1974