The Food Guide Pyramid was far from a perfect model for healthy eating, but it did have some strengths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced the pyramid graphic in 1992 after performing extensive consumer research on eating patterns and knowledge. The pyramid was then revamped in 2005 and replaced by a plate model in 2011, but many of its original advantages hold true in those updated models.
The Food Guide Pyramid emphasized the importance of eating a balanced, varied diet by depicting five main food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other proteins, including meat, fish, beans, nuts and eggs. Included with each food group were recommended servings per day, which communicated the idea that it’s healthy to eat a variety of foods daily rather than getting most of your calories from just one or two of the groups.
The tip of the Food Guide Pyramid depicted fats, oils and sweets and recommended limiting them to 100 to 300 of your total daily calories. Although some fats, such as olive oil, have proven benefits for cardiovascular health, many Americans do eat unhealthier fats and sweets in excess, both of which can negatively affect heart health. In that regard, the recommendation to limit fats and sweets was valid.
Easy to Understand
Harvard School of Public Health’s nutrition researchers are quick to point out flaws in the Food Guide Pyramid, but they admit that the pyramid shape had a tremendous benefit in being clear and easy to understand. By using a pyramid, the USDA was able to immediately imply that foods near the bottom of the pyramid were “good” and should be major fixtures of most people’s diets, and foods nearer the tip of the pyramid were “bad” and should be limited or avoided.
The Food Guide Pyramid appealed to people’s visual interest by showing examples of foods that might be healthy choices from each main group. Although not all depictions were of equally healthy foods, many items shown were significant sources of essential vitamins and minerals. Some of the healthiest foods shown were whole-grain bread, milk, eggs, fish, nuts, beans, fresh fruits like apples and oranges, and fresh vegetables like broccoli and leafy greens. Seeing examples of what you “should” be eating helped you think about healthy meal planning and what to pick when you had more than one option.
- ChooseMyPlate.gov: A Brief History of USDA Food Guides
- Nestle: What’s the Food Guide Pyramid?
- University of Florida: Food Pyramid Problems
- American Heart Association: Saturated Fats
- American Heart Association: Sugars, Added Sugars and Sweeteners
- Harvard School of Public Health: Food Pyramids and Plates -- What Should You Really Eat?
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