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What Is the Definition of the Food Pyramid?

The Definition of the Food Guide Pyramid is larger that you might think. It stems from years of research and experiments to determine how to show the public what a healthy diet looks like.

  1. The Food Guide Pyramid

    • A variety of food

      The Food Guide Pyramid first appeared in 1992 and was updated in 2005. The definition of the Food Guide Pyramid is a scientific picture based on dietary recommendations to prevent disease through a healthy diet and promote physical activity. It is based on the Dietary Guideline for Americans.

    Guiding principles

    • Colorful design

      The Dietary Guidelines are based on these guiding principles: overall health, flexibility, realistic, total diet, up to date, evolutionary, useful and practical. These guiding principles haven't changed since the government first began giving dietary advice formally in 1916. In that year, however, there was no pyramid; there was a pamphlet about food and young children.

    Graphic Design

    • The graphic design of the pyramid is interesting. It is based on activity, moderation, personalization, proportionality variety and gradual improvement. Although the way the pyramid looks has changed over the years, what it is based on has not.

    A nation of obese

    • One reason we need dietary guidance is due to obesity. Over 60% of the American population is either overweight or obese. These conditions lead to health problems such as heart disease and cancer and premature death. Another reason we need dietary guidance is for portion size. Americans are becoming fatter due to large portion sizes.

    Food Guide Pyramid

    • The Food Guide Pyramid is written for Americans. The United States Pyramid is based on Food and Physical Activity. Other countries add water and and other nutrients.

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