The Food Pyramid Timeline

Okay folks, I’m just getting started here trying to dip my toes in the nutrition pool, so to speak, so I decided to do a little USDA food pyramid research. Let’s take an interesting trip down memory lane.

1943

Here is a photo of the first nutrition guide in 1943. Notice the bit at the bottom that says “eat any other foods you want”.

1952

I don’t have a photo for this one, but in 1952 the USDA introduced the “Basic Four” food groups:

• Vegetables and fruits: Recommended as excellent sources of vitamins C and A, and a good source of fiber. A dark-green or deep-yellow vegetable or fruit was recommended every other day.
• Milk: Recommended as a good source of calcium, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, and sometimes vitamins A and D. Cheese, ice cream, and ice milk could sometimes replace milk.
• Meat: Recommended for protein, iron and certain B vitamins. Includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dry beans, dry peas, and peanut butter.
• Cereals and breads: Whole grain and enriched breads were especially recommended as good sources of iron, B vitamins and carbohydrates, as well as sources of protein and fiber. Includes cereals, breads, cornmeal, macaroni, noodles, rice and spaghetti.

1992

Okay, so then we make it all the way to 1992 before there’s an introduction of the USDA's food guide pyramid. This is the first time they actually recommended serving sizes of each food group.

2005

Finally! In 2005, the USDA updated its guide with MyPyramid to include exercise.

2011

Michelle Obama did a good(ish) thing in 2011 by revamping it again. I really appreciate her willingness to rename the previous meat categories as “protein”. Because, let’s face it, protein isn’t only in meat. And there are many people who don’t eat meat.

2014

I REALLY like this plant-based pyramid created by Matthew Kenney Cuisine. I don't actually know when he made this pyramid, but I'm going to pin it as 2014 just because I feel like it.

Okay, cool. So that was fun, right? You can see the progression over time where the nutrition knowledge improved, but let me ask a question... Why are you telling me what types of foods to eat? Shouldn't you be telling me what nutrients I need? I think it would be most helpful to know how much fiber, protein, probiotics, antioxidants, ...etc. I need. Then perhaps you can list different types of food that contain those nutrients. Because, let's face it, raw broccoli is great, steamed is good, and then broccoli wrapped in bacon.....ehhhhh....not so much.

So consider this my formal request to anyone listening. Can you take care of that for me? K. Thanks. ;-)