Questions About the Food Pyramid
All of us were at some point taught about the food pyramid in school, however many of us do not know how the food pyramid works in relationship to nutrition. Following the recommended dietary allowances according to the USDA's food pyramid leads to better eating habits and a healthier way of life. Learn more about healthy eating starts by getting answers to the questions concerning the food pyramid.
Who Created the Food Pyramid and What Was the Purpose?
The idea of a food pyramid was taking shape in 1916 but was presented to the public by the USDA as more of a "food guide." The purpose of the food guide was to establish guidance based on food groups and household measures. The focus of the food guide from 1916 through the 1930s was on teaching consumers how to choose protective foods particularly for young children.
In the 1940s "A Guide to Good Eating" was created which included the basic seven food groups. This guide was considered confusing and it did not provide serving sizes however, it did set a foundation for proper nutrition and laid out what was adequate. The “food guide” evolved over many decades from a guide, to a "food wheel" and it wasn’t until 1992 that the "food pyramid" was created. This new guide established a total diet approach which set forth allowances for both nutrient adequacy, food moderation and serving size requirements. The new food pyramid was developed using consumer research and illustrated concepts such as food variety, moderation in diet, portion size and caloric intake levels.
Does Everyone Use the Same Food Pyramid?
The USDA believes that because we are all created and built differently, that one food pyramid is not sufficient. Therefore, the USDA has created 12 food pyramids that are based on caloric intake and an individual’s activity level. There is a food pyramid for children, pregnant or nursing mothers, pre-school children and a food pyramid for those who want to lose weight.
What are the Main Food Groups in the Food Pyramid?
The main food groups are broken down into grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and proteins. Oils and fats are also calculated and included in the food pyramid.
Does the Food Pyramid Recommend Whole Grains?
The USDA recommends that at least half of your grain intake should include whole grains. It is also beneficial to eat a variety of vegetables and focus on fruits. Eat calcium rich foods that are low in fat and high in lean protein.
Is the Food Pyramid Hard to Use?
The USDA provides many different tools to use along with the food pyramid. In an effort to get consumers to eat a balanced diet and to balance our diet with sufficient exercise, they now run the food group bands from the top of the pyramid to the base. Basically, they tip the food pyramid on its side and follow the bands which will show the proportion of food we should eat from each food group. The bands are quite a bit wider at the bottom to remind us to eat mostly foods without solid fats and excessive sugar.
Is the Food Pyramid Color Coded?
The USDA has in color coded the food groups in the food pyramid to make it easier for us to select the proper foods in each category. Vegetables are green, grains are orange, fruits are red, dairy or milk products are blue, meat, beans, fish, poultry or your basic proteins are purple and finally, oils are yellow. In 2011, the USDA's, Center for Nutrition introduced Choose My Plate. Utilizing an image in the shape of a plate, this guide depicts each food group represented by color and provides the relative portion size that is recommended for our daily nutritional allowances.