The Importance Of The Food Guide Pyramid

Use the Food Guide Pyramid to learn about nutrition, balancing your diet and living an active and healthy lifestyle. Follow the guidelines to ensure that your food intake contains the right amount of calories, vitamins, nutrients and minerals to be healthy and maintain the right weight for your body.

History

The first Pyramid was released in the 1960s.The Food Guide Pyramid was issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Dietary Guidelines are updated every 5 years; a revision of the pyramid is expected after 2010. The Pyramid structures the Dietary Guideline's information into food instructions for people over the age of 2 years old on how to eat healthy and meet the body's needs through food and activity.

Structure

The food pyramid consists of grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat & beans, oils, discretionary calories and physical activity. Dietary recommendations vary with age, activity level and gender. The USDA recommends that people personalize their needs with the MyPyramid tools that are available on the program's site. The pyramid advises people to eat mostly fruits and vegetables, dairy, lean meats and to eat small amounts of sweets. The pyramid encourages people to get at least 30 minutes of moderately intense activity most days of the week.

Benefits

The Pyramid reflects the Dietary Guidelines, and provides suggestions that ensure that people are eating within their caloric ranges and are getting the nutrients that their body needs to function well. Follow the guidelines and help prevent chronic diseases and conditions such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Food suggestions are mainly low in cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fat, while being high in vitamins, fiber and minerals.

Resources

The Pyramid is available on the USDA's website. Create a personalized account that will guide you through the Pyramid and make suggestions based on your personal needs. The guide is available in Spanish, and there are modifications available for pregnant women. The site provides tips for making healthy choices, menus, examples of the food groups and advice on how to adhere to the Pyramid's guidelines.

Considerations

The Pyramid guidelines are for healthy persons. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes or cancer should talk to their doctor about making a personalized nutrition plan. People with anemia and other mineral or nutrient deficiencies should talk to their doctor before adjusting their diets. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise routine if you have asthma, osteoporosis, heart disease or are obese.