Food Pyramid

Extracted Attributes

• Original Origin

  Sweden, 1974

• US Introduction

  1992 by the USDA

• Primary Criticism

  Failure to distinguish between types of carbohydrates, leading to high intake of refined carbs

• Associated Health Issues

  Obesity epidemic and insulin resistance

• 1992 Fruit Recommendation

  2 to 4 servings per day

• 1992 Grain Recommendation

  6 to 11 servings per day

• 1992 Vegetable Recommendation

  3 to 5 servings per day

• 1992 Protein/Dairy Recommendation

  2 to 3 servings per day

Timeline

• The first food pyramid is published in Sweden. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1974-01-01

• The USDA introduces the 'Food Guide Pyramid' in the United States. (Source: Britannica)

  1992-01-01

• The USDA updates the guide to 'MyPyramid', featuring vertical color strips. (Source: MyPlate History PDF)

  2005-01-01

• The food pyramid is officially replaced by the 'MyPlate' icon in the US. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2011-01-01

• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reintroduces an inverted food pyramid during a White House briefing. (Source: USA Today)

  2026-01-07

Food pyramid (nutrition)

A food pyramid is a representation of the optimal number of servings to be eaten each day from each of the basic food groups. The first pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The 1992 pyramid introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was called the "Food Guide Pyramid" or "Eating Right Pyramid". It was updated in 2005 to "MyPyramid", and then it was replaced by "MyPlate" in 2011. In January 2026, the United States Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reintroduced an inverted food pyramid.

Web Search Results

• Food pyramid (nutrition) - Wikipedia

  A food pyramid's tip is the smallest part, so the fats and sweets in the top of the Food Pyramid should comprise the smallest percentage of the diet. The foods at the top of the food pyramid should be eaten sparingly because they provide calories, but not much in the way of nutrition. These foods include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies, and sweet desserts. On the 1992–2005 pyramid, the fat circle and sugar triangle are scattered throughout the pyramid to represent the naturally occurring fats and sugars in various foods. The idea of this is to reduce the temptation to eat so much junk food and excessive fats and sugars, as there is already enough fat and sugar in the rest of the diet. For example, the triangles in the Fruit Group represent the [...] The World Health Organization, in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization, published guidelines that can be effectively represented in a food pyramid relating to objectives in order to prevent obesity, improper nutrition, chronic diseases and dental caries based on meta-analysis though they represent it as a table rather than as a "pyramid". The structure is similar in some respects to the USDA food pyramid, but there are clear distinctions between types of fats, and a more dramatic distinction where carbohydrates are categorized on the basis of free sugars versus sugars in their natural form. Some food substances are singled out due to the impact on the target issues that the "pyramid" is meant to address. In a later revision, however, some recommendations are omitted as [...] | Nutritional advice | 5 A Day Dairy Council Dairy Council of California Food pyramid Fruits & Veggies – More Matters Healthy eating pyramid Latin American Diet Pyramid French paradox Mediterranean Diet Pyramid MyPlate MyPyramid Vegetarian Diet Pyramid Weight Watchers "Weight Watchers (diet)") | | Category Commons Cookbook Food portal, Health and fitness portal |

• Food pyramid | Origins, History, Variations, Debates, & Facts

  food pyramid, a visual representation (in the shape of a pyramid) of the optimal number of servings of food a person should eat daily from each basic food group. The food pyramid first evolved in Sweden in the 1970s and was adapted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1992. The USDA revised it in 2005 to create what it called MyPyramid, which was replaced by MyPlate in 2011. Many countries across the globe have adapted versions of the food pyramid, sometimes discarding the pyramid shape altogether. Whatever form they take, such food guides are intended to help people cultivate a daily pattern of recommended (and thus presumably healthy) food choices. ## Origins and evolution [...] In India the recommended food pyramid has four levels: cereals, grains, and milk to be consumed adequately; fruits and vegetables to be eaten liberally; meat, eggs, fish, salt, and oils to be eaten moderately; and sweets and junk food to be eaten sparingly. India’s pyramid also advises abstaining from alcohol and tobacco. Related Topics: : Food Guide Pyramid : dietary guideline See all related content ## Debates regarding the food pyramid [...] Creators of food pyramids have been accused of providing an overly simplified version of what constitutes an ideal diet. While the USDA’s 1992 pyramid can by no means be identified as a factor contributing to the rise in obesity over many decades among Americans, that food pyramid has been criticized for doing little to educate people on how to distinguish among carbohydrates, which have different nutritional profiles, and instead only recommending a number of servings to consume. So too, foods are typically not rich in only one kind of nutrient; for example, rice contains some amount of protein and can to some extent contribute to daily protein intake. However, this sort of complexity is not reflected in most food pyramids. Last, fats are typically placed at the top of food pyramids,

• Old food pyramid vs. RFK Jr.'s new food pyramid. See what's different.

  ## From pyramid to plate and back to pyramid The food pyramid, as we knew it, was first adopted in 1992, when the USDA released a four-level image. Food groups at the bottom of the pyramid were meant to reflect a larger portion of the recommended diet, while those at the top were supposed to be incorporated more sparingly. This original iteration, from bottom up, featured: 6-11 servings of grains and starches, including bread, cereal, rice and pasta. 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruit. 2-3 servings of dairy and meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. A sparing amount of fats, oils and sweets. [...] The original pyramid was revised in 2005 to the "MyPyramid" model, which was still shaped like a triangle but featured color strips stretching from the top to the bottom to represent each food group, as opposed to ascending levels. This iteration was based on a typical 2,000-calorie-a-day diet and recommended, from bottom to top: 6 ounces of grains. 2½ cups of vegetables. 2 cups of fruits. 3 cups of milk or dairy. 5½ ounces of meat, fish, beans, eggs and nuts a day. A "limited intake" of fats and oils. [...] In a White House news briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the announcement aligned with President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s promises to "Make America Healthy Again." "As secretary of Health and Human Services, my message is clear: Eat real food," Kennedy said. He called the change “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history.” Used to seeing the pyramid of the early aughts? It may take you a moment to wrap your head around just how much has changed. Here are some of the standout differences between the old and new food pyramids. ## What does the new food pyramid look like?

• [PDF] Dietary Guidelines for Americans

  A D V I C E F O R T O D AY I Let the Pyramid guide your food choices I Choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains I Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables daily I Keep food safe to eat 14 D i e t a r y G u i d e l i n e s f o r A m e r i c a n s , 2 0 0 0 D i e t a r y G u i d e l i n e s f o r A m e r i c a n s , 2 0 0 0 Let the Pyramid guide your food choices D ifferent foods contain different nutrients and other healthful substances. No single food can supply all the nutrients in the amounts you need. For example, oranges provide vitamin C and folate but no vitamin B12; cheese provides calcium and vitamin B12 but no vitamin C. To make sure you get all the nutrients and other substances you need for health, build a healthy base by using the Food Guide Pyramid (figure 2) [...] a healthy base by using the Food Guide Pyramid (figure 2) as a starting point. Choose the recommended number of daily servings from each of the five major food groups (box 7). If you avoid all foods from any of the five food groups, seek guidance to help ensure that you get all the nutrients you need. [...] There are many healthful eating patterns Different people like different foods and like to prepare the same foods in different ways. Culture, family background, religion, moral beliefs, the cost and availability of food, life experiences, food intolerances, and allergies affect people’s food choices. Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a starting point to shape your eating pattern. It provides a good guide to make sure you get enough nutrients. Make choices from each major group in the Food Guide Pyramid, and combine them however you like. For example, those who like Mexican cuisine might choose tortillas from the grains group and beans from the meat and beans group, while those who eat Asian food might choose rice from the grains group and tofu from the meat and beans group.

• [PDF] A Brief History of the USDA Food Guides - MyPlate

  November/December 1992:6-11. Welsh S, Davis C, Shaw A. Development of the Food Guide Pyramid. Nutrition Today November/December 1992:12-23. Haven J, Burns A, Britten P, Davis C. Developing the Consumer Interface for the MyPyramid Food Guidance System. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 2006, 38: S124–S135. May 2024 [...] visualization of added fats and sugars throughout five food groups and in the tip • Included range for daily amounts of food across three calorie levels 2005: MyPyramid Food Guidance System • Introduced along with updating of Food Guide Pyramid food patterns for the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including daily amounts of food at 12 calorie levels • Continued “pyramid” concept, based on consumer research but simplified illustration. Detailed information provided on website “MyPyramid.gov” • Added a band for oils and the concept of physical activity • Illustration could be used to describe concepts of variety, moderation, and proportion 2011: MyPlate • Introduced along with updating of USDA food patterns for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans • Different shape to help grab