Last updated in 2005, the USDA Food Pyramid, also referred to today as My Pyramid, is a color-coded tool provided by the U.S. government to help Americans make good eating choices with regard to each major food group. The Food Pyramid addresses both servings and what types of specific foods people should choose for healthy eating within each food group. A new version of the Food Pyramid will be released in 2010.
History
The original Food Pyramid was created in 1992 as a way to educate people in America on the right foods for a healthy daily diet. Prior to 1992, Americans were encouraged to follow Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs), a concept that the USDA introduced to the public in 1989. The Food Pyramid was intended to make it easier for Americans to understand what proportion of their diets should be made up of each food group. That concept was replaced by today's My Pyramid system.
Food Groups and Servings for Adults
The major food groups included within the Food Pyramid include vegetables, fruits, proteins, dairy products, oils and carbohydrates.
The average adult with a 2,000-calorie diet should eat approximately 2.5 cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruit, 5.5 oz. of lean proteins (such as low-fat meats and beans), 3 cups of milk, 27 g. of non-trans fat oil and 6 oz. of bread, pasta or other carbohydrates per day.
With regard to water consumption, the USDA recommends regular water consumption when thirsty.
Discretionary Calories
The newest concept created by the USDA and now included within the Food Pyramid is discretionary calories. Discretionary calories are calories that are left over after a person consumes his recommended amount of foods within the Food Pyramid.
A person can determine his discretionary calories by taking the amount of calories that he expends each day and subtracting all calories consumed when eating from all of the recommended food groups in the Food Pyramid.
Discretionary calories are typically the calories consumed by eating solid fat, added sugar or alcohol. Discretionary calorie allowances are usually small and range between 100 and 300 calories. An adult's discretionary calories should make up no more than 8 to 20 percent of his total caloric intake.
Obesity Prevention and the My Pyramid Plan
The My Pyramid was created in part to help reduce obesity levels within the U.S. through prevention. The average American eats too many fats and sugars and not enough dark greens, whole grains, low-fat dairy products or legumes.
Along with the My Pyramid, the USDA has released an online tool called the My Pyramid Plan, which allows Americans to calculate exactly how much of each food type they should eat, as well as how many discretionary calories they can have.
Food Pyramid for Children
To make the My Pyramid more understandable for children, the USDA created My Pyramid for Kids. It features a cartoon woman walking up the stairs who reminds children to do something active each day, as well as an explanation of each color in the food pyramid. Accompanying information to the My Pyramid for Kids encourages families to make smart eating decisions, such as eating dark green and orange vegetables, and choosing whole grains, fruits, lean proteins and calcium-rich foods.
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