USDA food pyramid (1992–2011) The current US food pyramid is part of the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is published jointly by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Health and Human Services (HHS) every five years, as mandated by the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990. The guidelines provide the rationale for food choices made in federally-funded programs such as school lunch programs, food supplement programs, and military meal rations.
History , 1946 's original food pyramid, from 1992 to 2005 The USDA food pyramid was created in 1992 and divided into six horizontal sections containing depictions of foods from each section's food group. It was updated in 2005 with black and white vertical wedges replacing the horizontal sections and renamed
MyPyramid. MyPyramid was often displayed with the food images absent, creating a more abstract design. In an effort to restructure food nutrition guidelines, the USDA rolled out its new
MyPlate program in June 2011. My Plate was divided into four slightly different sized quadrants, with fruits and vegetables taking up half the space, and grains and protein making up the other half. The vegetables and grains portions are the largest of the four. A modified food pyramid was proposed in 1999 for adults aged over 70.
Vegetables A
vegetable is a part of a plant consumed by humans that is generally savory but is not sweet. A vegetable is not considered a grain, fruit,
nut,
spice, or
herb. For example, the
stem,
root,
flower, etc., may be eaten as vegetables. Vegetables contain many
vitamins and
minerals; however, different vegetables contain different balances of micronutrients, so it is important to eat a wide variety of types. For example, orange and dark green vegetables typically contain
vitamin A, dark green vegetables contain
vitamin C, and vegetables like broccoli and related plants contain
iron and
calcium. Vegetables are very low in
fats and
calories, but ingredients added in preparation can often add them.
Grains These foods provide complex
carbohydrates, which are the body's primary source of energy and provide quality nutrition in any case. Examples include
corn,
wheat,
pasta, and
rice. Grains, when digested, break down into glucose, the body's preferred energy source. Complex carbohydrates also provide
dietary fiber, which supports digestive health and lowers the risk of heart disease.
Fruits In terms of food (rather than botany),
fruits are the sweet-tasting
seed-bearing parts of plants, or occasionally sweet parts of plants which do not bear seeds. These include
apples,
oranges,
grapes,
bananas, etc. Fruits are low in calories and fat and are a source of natural
sugars,
fiber and vitamins. Processing fruit when
canning or making into
juices may add sugars and remove nutrients. The fruit food group is sometimes combined with the vegetable food group. Note that a massive number of different plant species produce seed pods which are considered fruits in botany, and there are a number of botanical fruits which are conventionally
not considered fruits in
cuisine because they lack the characteristic sweet taste, e.g.,
tomatoes or
avocados.
Dairy Dairy products are produced from the
milk of animals, usually but not exclusively
cattle. They include milk,
yogurt and
cheese. Milk and its derivative products are a rich source of dietary calcium and also provide protein,
phosphorus, vitamin A, and
vitamin D. However, many dairy products are high in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to vegetables, fruits and whole grains, which is why skimmed products are available as an alternative. Historically, adults were recommended to consume three cups of dairy products per day. More recently, evidence is mounting that dairy products have greater levels of negative effects on health than previously thought and confer fewer benefits. For example, recent research has shown that dairy products are not related to stronger bones or less fractures; on the contrary, another study showed that milk (and yogurt) consumption results in higher bone mineral density in the hip. Overall, the majority of research suggests that dairy has some beneficial effects on bone health, in part because of milk's other nutrients.
Meat and beans Meat is the
tissue—usually
muscle—of an
animal consumed by humans. Since most parts of many animals are edible, there is a vast variety of meats. Meat is a major source of
protein, as well as iron,
zinc, and
vitamin B12. The category of meats, poultry, and fish include
beef,
chicken,
pork,
salmon,
tuna,
shrimp, and
eggs. The meat group is one of the major compacted food groups in the food guide pyramid. Since many of the same nutrients found in meat can also be found in foods like eggs, dry
beans, and
nuts, such foods are typically placed in the same category as meats, as
meat alternatives. These include
tofu, products that resemble meat or
fish but are made with
soy, eggs, and
cheeses. For those who do not consume meat or animal products (
see Vegetarianism, veganism and Taboo food and drink),
meat analogs,
tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts and other high-protein vegetables are also included in this group. The food guide pyramid suggests that adults eat 2–3 servings per day. One serving of meat is , about the size of a deck of cards.
Oils and sweets A food pyramid's tip is the smallest part, so the fats and sweets in the top of the Food Pyramid should comprise the smallest percentage of the diet. The foods at the top of the food pyramid should be eaten sparingly because they provide calories, but not much in the way of nutrition. These foods include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies, and sweet desserts. On the 1992–2005 pyramid, the fat circle and sugar triangle are scattered throughout the pyramid to represent the naturally occurring fats and sugars in various foods. The idea of this is to reduce the temptation to eat so much junk food and excessive fats and sugars, as there is already enough fat and sugar in the rest of the diet. For example, the triangles in the Fruit Group represent the fact that sugar is inevitable in that group.
Criticism and controversy Certain dietary choices that have been linked to
heart disease, such as an serving of
hamburger daily, were technically permitted under the pyramid. The pyramid also lacked differentiation within the protein-rich group ("Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts"). The development of the US food pyramid has been influenced by food lobbyists undermining its credibility. In April 1991, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) halted publication of its Eating Right Pyramid, due to objections raised by meat and dairy
lobbying groups concerning the guide's display of their products. Despite the USDA's explanations that the guide required further research and testing, it was not until one year later—after its content was supported by additional research—that the Eating Right Pyramid was officially released. This time, even the guide's graphic design was altered to appease industry concerns. This incident was only one of many in which the food industry attempted to alter federal dietary recommendations in their own economic self-interest. Some of the recommended quantities for the different types of food in the old pyramid have also come under criticism for lack of clarity. For instance, the pyramid recommends two to three servings from the protein-rich group, but this is intended to be a maximum. The pyramid recommends two to four fruit servings, but this is intended to be the minimum. The fats group as a whole have been put at the tip of the pyramid, under the direction to eat as little as possible, which some people have considered problematic. The guide instructs people to limit fat intake as much as possible, which can cause health problems because fat is essential to overall health. Research suggests that
unsaturated fats aid in weight loss, reduce heart disease risk, lower blood sugar, and even lower cholesterol. Also, they are very long sustaining, and help keep blood sugar at a steady level. On top of that, these fats help brain function as well. Several researchers have said that food and agricultural associations exert undue political power on the USDA. Food industries, such as milk companies, have been accused of influencing the United States Department of Agriculture into making the colored spots on the newly created food pyramid larger for their particular product. The milk section has been described as the easiest to see out of the six sections of the pyramid, making individuals believe that more milk should be consumed on a daily basis compared to the others.
Joel Fuhrman says in his book
Eat to Live that U.S. taxpayers must contribute 20 billion on
price supports to artificially reduce the price of cattle feed to benefit the dairy, beef and veal industries, and then pay the medical bills for an overweight population. He asks if the USDA is under the influence of the
food industry, because a food pyramid based on science would have vegetables at its foundation.
MyPlate (2011–2026) food guide icon
MyPlate was the 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 on June 2, 2011, concluding 19 years of USDA food pyramid diagrams. The successor to the Food Pyramid called
MyPlate has also received numerous criticisms, but unlike the Food Pyramid, which was very well known, the MyPlate program has yet to become publicly well known , with as many as "3 out of 4 Americans [having] no idea what the government's MyPlate dietary guide [even] is." In 2026, it was replaced with the New Pyramid.
The New Pyramid (2026–present) The New Pyramid, often called "the inverted food pyramid" released on January 7, 2026, prioritizes high-quality, nutrient-dense foods over
processed items. The pyramid places proteins (including
red meat), healthy fats (including
butter and
beef tallow which are generally regarded as unhealthy fats due to their
saturated fat content and have naturally occurring
trans fats), and
full-fat dairy at the top, while avoiding foods that are highly processed and contain
refined carbohydrates,
industrial seed oils,
artificial sweeteners, and
added sugars. This approach claims to reduce chronic diseases such as
obesity,
diabetes, and
fatty liver disease. The reveal of the New Pyramid was described as a "mixed bag" by health groups. The
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine issued a mixed response stating "The Guidelines are right to limit cholesterol-raising saturated fat...(but) the Guidelines err in promoting meat and dairy products". The
American Medical Association wrote that they "[applaud] the Administration's new Dietary Guidelines for spotlighting the highly processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and excess sodium that fuel heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic illnesses."
David A. Kessler, the 16th
Commissioner of Food and Drugs, described the pyramid positively as a "major advance in how we approach diet and health". Nutritionist
Marion Nestle described the pyramid as a "mixed bag", criticizing the pyramid's appeal to "the meat, dairy, and alcohol industries", while also praising its "recommendation to reduce highly processed foods". == See also ==