Why Did the Government Change the Food Pyramid?

The food pyramid consists of recommendations by the United States Department of Agriculture for the amount of food you should eat daily from each food group. The pyramid is updated every five years and was last updated in 2005. The government changed the last food pyramid because there were several issues that needed to be addressed.

Grains

• The previous grain recommendations suggested 6 to 11 servings, and did not distinguish between whole grains and refined grains. It is widely known now that whole grains are much healthier for you.

Dairy

• The old recommendations did not recommend low-fat dairy. Unfortunately, 2 to 3 servings of full fat dairy products are very high in saturated fat, which can increase your chances of developing heart disease and necessitated the change.

Meats

• The old pyramid recommended 2-3 servings of meat but did not specify what types of meat. Certain types of meat like beef and pork can be higher in saturated fat, which can also lead to heart conditions. The new pyramid recommends healthier meat choices.

Fats

• The old pyramid grouped fats, oil, and sweets together at the tip of the pyramid. Certain types of fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated actually have heart healthy benefits so and the government wanted to call them out specifically in the food pyramid.

Exercise

• Another reason the government changed the food pyramid was because it didn't address exercise. The current version now includes physical activity as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.