Food Guide Pyramid (1992)

The Original Food Guide Pyramid

The Food Guide Pyramid (now superseded by MyPyramid) was introduced by the USDA in 1992. As food pyramids are designed to do, it translates nutritional recommendations (according to conventional wisdom at that time) into the kinds and amounts of food to eat each day. The Food Guide Pyramid emphasizes foods from the five major food groups shown in the three lower sections of the Pyramid. Each of these food groups provides some, but not all, of the nutrients you need. Foods in one group can’t replace those in another. No one food group is more important than another – for good health, you need them all.

Foods, Oils and Sweets

These are foods such as salad dressings and oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies, and sweet desserts. These foods provide calories and little else nutritionally, and should be used sparingly by most people.

Milk, Yogurt and Cheese

Protein foods from animals: milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Beans, Eggs, and Nuts

Foods from meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts. These foods are important forprotein, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Vegetables and Fruits

These groups include foods that come from plants – vegetables and fruits. Most people need to eat more of these foods for the vitamins, minerals, and fiber they supply.

Breads, cereals, rice, and pasta

These are all foods from grains. You need the most servings of these foods each day.

Food Guide Pyramid: Conclusion from a number of authorities

While the Food Guide Pyramid was a well-recognized symbol as a nutritional guide, as long ago as 2001 it was admitted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The National Institutes of Health (NIH) that the Food Guide Pyramid was a total failure. 80% of Americans recognized the symbol, but people had become sicker and heavier since it was updated in 1992. Its recommendations were based on uncertain scientific evidence, and were barely improved over the years to reflect major improvements in our understanding of diet and health.