What Is The USDA Food Pyramid, And How Has It Changed?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is embroiled in a controversy over its "food pyramid" of the four basic food groups. The recommendation of the pyramid's structure has been revised several times in the last three years as ideas about how much fat and protein should be eaten change.

Your mom was right when she told you to eat the "four basic food groups": meat; eggs and dairy; grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds; and fruits and vegetables. The old pyramid recommended that for the average adult meat be the top (smallest) tier, then eggs and dairy, then grains and legumes, and finally fruits and vegetables.

With the rise of vegetarianism and the expansion of our waistlines, this pyramid was attacked for not recognizing the importance of alternative sources of protein (i.e. non-meat) and for its de-emphasis on produce. It now has a fifth category at the top for oils, fats and sweets, and recommends their use as sparingly. It also gives dairy, meat, and eggs equal billing on the next tier.

Now, the USDA recommends eating less meat and at least six servings per day of fruit and vegetables. It frowns upon fatty meats and dairy products, urging us to eat more low-calorie dairy or soy products and to get protein from whole-grain breads and pastas and brown rice.