The basic nutrition food pyramid was first produced by the the federal government in 1916. The recommendations made in the report remained unchanged until a circular chart was introduced in 1940. Changes to the food guide continued from the 1950s until a nutrition food pyramid was introduced in 1992. While child nutrition was always a concern, a special food pyramid for children was not introduced until 2000.
The Kids' Pyramid
The USDA outlines six basic food groups and the amounts of food that children should eat each day. The food groups---grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk/dairy and meat/beans---should be eaten every day, according to the USDA. To reinforce the amounts of foods from each category, the agency developed a color-coded cartoon showing a large orange segment for grains and an almost equal blue segment for milk and dairy, followed by an almost imperceptibly smaller green segment representing vegetables. Fruits are represented by a slightly smaller red segment. The meats and beans segment is narrower still, and oils are represented by a thin, yellow slice illustrating the limited amount of oils required each day.
Special Childhood Needs
Children require more whole grains, vegetables and fruit than adults, according to the USDA and Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, requires all prepared food product manufacturers to include a food label on the product packaging. This requirement aids parents and guardians in preparing meals that meet the average daily requirements.
Balance
Parents and children must find the balance between proper diet and daily activity. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly one in seven low-income, preschool age children in the U.S. are overweight. The children's pyramid reinforces the importance of daily exercise by including a small girl running up stairs that line one side of the pyramid. The USDA recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day for all children, regardless of age.
Considerations
The children's food pyramid is not static. Numerous changes have been made in response to findings made by lengthy studies. The most significant is the introduction of the visual component (the pyramid) of the nutritional suggestions. An organized effort between federal and state health agencies focuses on introducing special learning materials designed specifically for children. These include an interactive website and self-directed lessons as important parts of the current effort to educate children and their parents.
Significance
Failure to meet the requirements listed in the food pyramid may lead to serious health consequences for children, especially kids under the age of five due to the lack of development of healthy eating habits that carry over into adulthood. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) studies comparing obesity from 1976 through 2006 show that obesity levels for all children have increased dramatically over the years, with the most dramatic increases in children ages 6 to 11, and 12 to 19. Obesity is a known factor for increased risk of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, and to heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.
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