Every day people hear about a new food or diet to help them live a healthier life. All this information can make choosing the right foods confusing. The food guide pyramid is a tool designed by the USDA to help Americans make nutritious food choices.
History
In 1941, the first National Nutrition Conference was conducted. This conference unveiled the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Recommended Dietary Allowances and the idea of food groups. Initially there were seven food groups, but these were simplified to four. The basic four food groups--meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and grains--remained as the food guide for the next 50 years. In 1992, the USDA revealed a new food guide, the food guide pyramid, whose purpose was to provide a pictorial, encouraging variety and proportionality with food. In 2005, a newly designed and updated food guide pyramid was introduced.
The Food Groups
The purpose of the new food guide pyramid is to offer personalized eating plans, to assist people with making healthier choices, as outlined by the federal government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. There are six food groups on the food guide pyramid, along with an area indicating the need for physical activity. The food groups are grains, fruits, vegetables, meats and beans, dairy, and oils--plus discretionary calories.
Food Choices
Each food group in the pyramid comes with suggestions on how to make the best food choices. The guide recommends choosing at least three servings of whole grains per day. It suggests eating more dark green and orange vegetables. Go easy on juice, they say, but eat a variety of fruits. The food guide pyramid recommends most fats come from fish, nuts and vegetable oils. The guide encourages people to choose low-fat and fat-free dairy products. And it suggests choosing leaner meats, fish and poultry, while increasing intake of beans. The MyPyramid website offers a personalized plan with individualized calorie and meal pattern recommendations.
Putting It Together
Once people have a good understanding of the different food groups and the best choices, they can start planning meals. The MyPyramid website offers a menu planner to help people create nutritious meals. The MyPyramid Meal Tracker is a tool to help assess quality of dietary intake. When it comes to nutritious meal planning, the food guide pyramid recommends three meals and one snack, while choosing a variety of foods from each of the food groups.
Benefits
The food guide pyramid is an easy-to-follow healthy eating plan. It is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are scientifically designed to prevent chronic illness. The foods recommended are nutrient-dense, meaning they are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. The purpose of the food guide pyramid is to improve the health and well-being of Americans.
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