Food Pyramid
What is Food Pyramid?
The food pyramid or the food guide pyramid is a nutritional guide. The food groups classification was replaced by the food guide pyramid in 1992. There are various sections in the pyramid implying the optimal intake of food for proper nutrition from each category. Alternately, the pyramid also suggests the percentage composition of diet in different food groups.
Earlier, the food groups classification was meant to do the same thing, but with the growing threats from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, sought for changes in the classification. Usually, foods from every group should be taken daily according to the classifications in the pyramid. That results in a healthier lifestyle and helps to stay away from the onset of various diseases.
The Food Groups of Food Pyramid
The grain group: A thick orange strip in the food pyramid represents the grain group. This group includes cereals, breads, pastas, crackers, and rice. These items supply the food energy in the form of starch. The main nutrient obtained from grains is proteins. Additionally, dietary fiber, fatty acids and other useful nutrients are also provided by grains. 6-11 Daily servings of grains are usually recommended.
The vegetable group: The vegetable group is represented by a green strip in the food pyramid. The vegetables are parts of plants, not sweet in taste and are not considered as grains, fruits, nuts or herbs. Vegetables provide various essential vitamins and minerals. Vegetables usually contain very little amounts of fats and calories. 3-5 daily servings of vegetables are recommended every day.
The fruits group: The fruits are represented by a red strip in the food pyramid. Usually, fruits are sweet in taste. Most fruits bear seeds, although some parts of plants that do not bear seeds are also considered to be fruits. Fruits provide natural vitamins, sugars and fibers and are low in fats and calories. Daily 2-4 servings of fruits are recommended.
The oils group: The oils group is represented by a thin yellow strip in the pyramid. It includes the cooking oils, butter, fats and sweets. The food pyramid implies that lesser amounts of foods of this group should be taken. The MyPyramid avoids considering this group as a foods group.
The Dairy group: The dairy group is represented by a thick blue strip in the pyramid. It includes milk, yogurt, cheese and various derivatives of milk. Dairy products provide minerals, vitamins, fats and proteins. 3 cups of dairy items are recommended for the adults daily.
Meat, fish, egg, poultry, nuts and dry beans group: This group is the last group of the pyramid and is represented by a purple strip. There are many varieties of the constituents of this group. Meats are major sources of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Meats provide energy and nutrients but are high in fats and cholesterols. 3-5 servings of food of this group are usually recommended.
Implications of Food Pyramid
The food pyramid implies a lot of information regarding the dietary habits of people. The size and volume of the various food groups are made according to the needs of the nutrients for human beings.
1. A variety of foods should be taken: The food pyramid implies that variety of foods should be included in the daily diet. Food from every group should be included in diet every day.
2. The volumes of various food groups are different: The pyramid also suggests the various volumes of foods needed for a healthy diet. The thin yellow and purple strips represent that less amount of oils and meats etc. should be taken than the grains, fruits and dairy products.
3. The food pyramid also suggests that a variety of foods are necessary, that too, in different quantities as we go from bottom to up. That is why a slice of apple would be in the upper, thin parts while a whole apple would be at the bottom of the pyramid.
Needs of Food Pyramid
The food pyramid is essential in many respects. It not only provides an important clue about the foods that should be taken to stay healthy, it also offers a detailed understanding of the various constituents of food. The pyramid can be personalized according to one’s personal needs, thereby making it easier to consider some foods predominantly over others. The pyramid is also helpful in determining which foods are best to take and which should be controlled to avoid various chronic diseases.
The increase of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, and their early onsets recently have fuelled the need of a healthy diet intake so that many diseases can be avoided. The food pyramid helps in this purpose as well. It not only offers information about the various groups of food that are necessary, but also provides an insight into the constituents and their requirements.
Although there are many controversies related to the recent food pyramid, the United States Department of Agriculture considers the pyramid to be ideal for determining the needs of the general adult for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The Food Groups Classification
The food groups’ classification that was in vogue before the food pyramid was accepted by USDA, had thirteen food groups. The groups are further divided into various classes depending upon their nature and nutritional values. These groups were the following;
1. Milk and milk products
2. Meat and meat products
3. Eggs and egg products
4. Fish, mollusks, reptiles, crustaceans and their products
5. Oils, fats and their products
6. Pulses, seeds, kernels, nuts, and their products
7. Grains and grain products
8. Vegetables and vegetable products
9. Fruits and fruit products
10. Sugar, sugar products, chocolate products and confectionery
11. Beverages
12. Miscellaneous, soups, sauces, snacks and their products, and
13. Products for special nutritional use
Controversies associated with the Food Pyramid
The major controversy that is associated with the USDA’s food pyramid is that it lacks transparency and depth while dividing the foods into major groups. Some of the suggestions offered by the USDA through the food pyramid are also considered unhealthy. For example, the pyramid refers to serving of three cups of whole milk and 8 ounces of hamburger serving daily, which is harmful if the heart diseases are considered.
There is lack of clarity in the sizes of daily servings too. For example the pyramid refers to daily intake of two to three servings from the protein rich group which is the maximum needed for an adult, while the two to four fruit servings referred by the pyramid is the minimum needed. So, while some of the servings are more than required, some servings would mean undernourishment.
There is also lack of differentiation in the protein rich group. The group is not divided into various types of protein rich foods. It also lacks clarity about which food should be included in the recommended servings. It also lacks specific guidelines about the whole grains group, i.e. – it doesn’t tell how much and which grains should be included in a healthy diet.
There are parallel pyramids running due to these controversies. The Harvard school of public Health refers to the healthy eating pyramid which includes various multivitamins and moderate amounts of alcohol in the pyramid. Some researchers believe that this pyramid is more close to the results of nutrition studies published in peer reviewed scientific journals.
Some also believe that there is an influential lobby of the food production associations in keeping the food pyramid as the ideal food and nutrition guide although it lacks in many considerations.
