The food pyramid offers an easy-to-understand, visual guide to teach children about nutrition and healthy food choices. Developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the food pyramid includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein and dairy products, as well as fats and sugars on the top of the pyramid. Educational guides are available to help children learn what they should eat and what foods they should reserve as special treats.
History
According to the USDA, it began offering food recommendations for nutritious eating as early as 1894. It introduced the four basic food groups in 1956. The food pyramid came to be the primary food guide offered by the USDA in 1992. Variations on the basic food pyramid include food pyramids for ethnic foods, a Mediterranean diet, vegetarians and children. The USDA changed the food pyramid for kids again in 2005 to a more colorful pyramid with vertical wedges marking each food.
Function
The food pyramid for children includes types of foods and visual cues as to how much is appropriate to eat. There are six colored vertical wedges or stripes on the current food pyramid. The wider the stripe, the more you should eat of those foods. Orange and green, the two widest stripes, represent grains and vegetables. Red signifies fruits; blue is used for dairy products; and purple for meat, beans and nuts. Finally, a narrow yellow stripe designates fats and sugars on the pyramid, according to Kids Health from Nemours.
Significance
The food pyramid for kids breaks nutrition down into a fun, memorable and practical graphic. Steps up the side of the pyramid remind children to be active. Kids Health from Nemours reports that the wider base of each stripe contains the healthier food choices in each group. Games, posters and other learning tools are available to help children grasp the food pyramid at mypyramid.gov.
Considerations
While previous food guides have often included more direct information about total servings, the current food pyramid for children does not include that specific information. Concerned parents will find charts with detailed food recommendations available online at mypyramid.gov, as well as suggested foods within each food group.
Effects
With childhood obesity on the rise, it is critical that kids understand the importance of good nutrition and an active lifestyle. The current food pyramid for children has been designed with that in mind. The pyramid also reminds kids that changes can be made step by step and that even small changes matter, according to Kids Health from Nemours. Parents can use the food pyramid to reinforce dietary and activity changes at home and even hang it up to give a visual reminder for the kids to make good food choices.
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