Food Pyramid Facts

Food Pyramid Facts

A food pyramid or diet pyramid is a pyramid-shaped diagram representing the optimal number of servings to be eaten each day from each of the basic food groups. The first food pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974 and the food pyramid introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture in the year 1992 was called the "Food Guide Pyramid". It was updated in 2005 and then replaced by MyPlate in 2011. Over 25 other countries and organisations have also published food pyramids. See the fact file below for more information about food pyramids.

Based on a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet

  • Grains: 6 ounces daily
  • Vegetables: 2.5 cups daily
  • Fruits: 2 cups daily
  • Milk: 3 cups daily (kids 2-8, it’s 3 cups daily)
  • Meats & Beans: 5.5 ounces daily

Oils

  • Most fats should be from fish, nuts and vegetable oils
  • Limit solid fats such a butter, margerine or lard
  • Keep consumption of saturated fats, trans fats and sodium low
  • Choose foods low in sugar

External resources

Diabetes Food Pyramid
Enchanted Learning: Food Pyramid Quiz
Food Pyramid Challenge
Food Pyramid Game
Food Pyramid Information
Food Pyramid: A Plan for Eating
Healthy Eating Pyramid
Healthy School Meals
Kids:  Nutrition Exploration
KinderStart: Food Pyramid
The Food Guide Pyramid
The New Food Pyramid and Child Nutrition
USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center
USDA:  My Pyramid
Wikipedia:  Food Guide Pyramid

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