Explain the Food Pyramid

The food pyramid is a visual tool developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help people understand the components of a healthy lifestyle and diet. Although eating a healthy diet can seem simple on the surface, when you examine each section of the food pyramid, you may be surprised that eating a healthy diet based on the pyramid requires planning and forethought.

Pyramid and Food Band Shape

The familiar food pyramid design was unveiled in 1992 by the USDA. Initially, the foods were displayed in horizontal rectangles. Pictures of foods were in each rectangle. As of 2011, the graphic displays no food within the pyramid, but rather decreasing triangles on the front of the pyramid and a person walking up the steps on the side of the three-dimensional pyramid. The pyramid is wider at the bottom to indicate that that basis of your diet should be grains, fruits and vegetables. The narrowing of the pyramid reminds you to consume fewer foods high in sugars and fats. The colored bands are slightly different widths, to visually instruct you to eat more of one food group than the other.

Meaning of the Colors

Each colored section on the front face of the food pyramid represents food groups. From left to right, the colors are orange, green, red, yellow, blue and purple. The yellow color is the thinnest stripe, and represents not a food group but fats and oils. Consume the least amount of fats and oils each day, concentrating on olive, canola and other healthy oils and fats. Orange represents the grain food group, and encompasses breads, cereals, pasta, rices and other whole grains. The green on the pyramid is for vegetables of all kinds, from salad greens to artichokes. Red represents fruits, such as melons, citrus, apples, star fruit, kiwi, pineapple and grapes. Milk and dairy products occupy the blue stripe. Eat mainly low-fat or fat-free dairy products to give your body the benefit of calcium and protein without consuming too much saturated fat. Purple, the stripe on the far right, stands for protein choices, such as meat, nuts, seafood, beans and legumes.

Meaning of the Steps

The food pyramid is multidimensional, rather than flat, to convey that it takes more than just food to stay healthy. The small figure walking up the steps illustrates the importance of taking actual, physical steps towards better health. You should set a minimal goal of exercising for 150 minutes each week at a moderately intense pace, or at least 75 minutes of strenuous exercise such as intense bicycling, running or fast-paced swimming. The more physically active you are, the easier it may be to control your weight, especially when combined with good nutritional choices.

Putting it All Together

Use the overall message of the food pyramid to put your personalized eating plan together. The website, MyPyramid.gov allows and encourages you to use the pyramid as a guide to healthier eating. Customize the message of the pyramid to fit your lifestyle -- whether you are a vegetarian, a breast-feeding or pregnant woman, an older person or a teenager. If you need to lose weight, choose foods from the food groups that are lower in calories and unhealthy fats. Fill up on the foods represented by the orange, green and red bands, and eating fewer calories from the milk and meat choices.