Old and New Food Pyramid Information with Pictures

Introduction

The Food Guide Pyramid is a graphical representation allowing people to better understand how to eat healthy. A balanced diet is one that includes all the food groups of the food pyramid. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) changed the food pyramid in spring 2005 because they wanted to convey a better example of how to eat healthier. The new pyramid is based on the best available scientific facts concerning links between diet and good health.

Main Digest

This new food pyramid addresses flaws in the original USDA food pyramid and offers better up to date information allowing people to better follow guidelines concerning what they should eat. Below is a picture of both the old and new food pyramids.

Picture of the Old Food Pyramid

Continued below image.

Continued...

You should center your diet around the foods at the base of the food pyramid, and eat less of the foods at the top. If you're watching your weight then you should concentrate on eating the minimum number of recommended daily servings. If you are looking to gain extra weight, eat the maximum number of servings.

Picture of the New Food Pyramid

The New Food Pyramid is a tool to educate people to eat a more balanced diet from a greater variety of food portions without counting calories. The USDA has now expanded the four food groups to six groups and expanded the number of servings to meet the calorie needs of most people.

Continued below image.

Continued...

The new food pyramid is more flexible and accurate than the one we had a few years ago. The reason being that one image of a pyramid with markings of what your daily intake should be can not apply to everyone. It all depends on a person's lifestyle and how much exercise they get involved in during a week. It also depends on if a person is trying to lose weight or gain weight. If a person is trying to gain weight then they should proceed to having the highest amounts of recommended servings, if a person is trying to lose weight then they should try to aim for the lowest recommended servings per day.

My Plate

Continued below image.

Continued...

My Plate is the current nutrition guide published by the United States Department of Agriculture, depicting a place setting with a plate and glass divided into five food groups. It replaced the USDA's MyPyramid guide.

MyPlate is divided into sections of approximately 30 percent grains, 30 percent vegetables, 20 percent fruits and 20 percent protein, accompanied by a smaller circle representing dairy, such as a glass of low-fat/nonfat milk or a yogurt cup.

How Much Does One Serving Equal?

Milk products group:

• 1 cup about 8 oz. of milk or yogurt
• 2 slices of cheese, 1/8" thick (1 1/2 oz.)
• 2 cups of cottage cheese
• 1 1/2 cups of ice milk, ice cream or frozen yogurt

Meat group:

• 2 oz. to 3 oz. of cooked lean meat, poultry, fish
• 2 eggs
• 7 oz. tofu
• 1 cup cooked legumes or dried beans or peas
• 4 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 cup nuts or seeds

Vegetables:

• 1/2 cup cooked vegetables
• 1/2 cup raw chopped vegetables
• 1 cup raw leafy vegetables
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup vegetable juice

Fruits:

• 1 whole medium fruit (about 1 cup)
• 1/4 cup dried fruit
• 1/2 cup canned fruit
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup fruit juice

Bread and Cereals:

• 1 slice bread
• 1 medium muffin
• 1/2 hot dog bun or hamburger bun
• 1/2 bagel or English muffin
• 4 small crackers
• 1 tortilla
• 1 cup cold cereal
• 1/2 cup cooked cereal
• 1/2 cup rice
• 1/2 cup pasta.

To have a good idea of what you should be eating and how much of it you should be eating. You can view this interactive guide which was made by the United States Department of Agriculture at https://www.myplate.gov

Related Publications


Share This Information To:
𝕏.com Facebook Reddit

Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is an independent disability community founded in 2004 to provide news and information to people with disabilities, seniors, their family and carers. You can connect with us on social media such as X.com and Facebook.

Cite This Page (APA): Langtree, I. C. (2017, December 20). Old and New Food Pyramid Information with Pictures. Disabled World. Retrieved May 13, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/food-pyramid.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/food-pyramid.php">Old and New Food Pyramid Information with Pictures</a>: Description of the new and old food pyramids with pictures explaining how they work and examples of how to eat healthier with proper serving sizes.

Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.