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The improved American food guide pyramid, informally known as the '''food pyramid''', was a Nutrition guide created by the USDA . Released in 1992 , the food pyramid suggested how much of each food category one should eat each day. The food guide pyramid replaced the Food Groups classification. On April 19 , 2005 , the USDA released the food guide pyramid's successor, MyPyramid .


ORIGIN

The food guide pyramid's original version was invented and designed in Sweden by Ann-Britt Agnsater for KF: Testkitchen 1974. The food pyramid was based on the amount of basic food one needs to eat daily in order to maintain their health. Later it was developed to a pyramid. KFs: Test kitchen (Swedish Cooperative movement's Test kitchen) later introduced the Food Pyramid to other European countries, as well as Tanzania and Sri Lanka. In 1992 it inspired American nutritional experts to develop an improved American food pyramid.

This initial pyramid became famous throughout the world, and became an American icon. One issue which this pyramid was believed to have was its rigidness. The new pyramid reflected the concept that a diet should be structured according to an individual's needs. The old pyramid allowed individuals to consume the foods within a certain range of servings, but did not state how to interpret that choice.

In general terms, the food guide pyramid recommends the following intake of different food groups each day, although exact amounts of Calorie intake depends on sex, age, and lifestyle.

  • 4-10 Serving s a day of Vegetables , especially dark green vegetables and orange vegetables.


  • 2-4 servings of Fruit a day are required, especially fresh and frozen fruits.






  • Oils,sweets & fats

  • Milk cheese & yogurt

  • Meat fish & poultry

  • Vegetables

  • Fruits

  • Bread cereals & pasta


== Federal dietary recommendations
cereals", "milk or cheese", and "meat, fish or fowl". This show continued to be aired until 1981.


CRITICISM OF THE 1992 FOOD PYRAMID


To many nutritional experts, the 1992 pyramid did not reflect the latest research on dietetics. Certain dietary choices that have been linked to heart disease, such as three cups of whole milk and a 8 oz. serving of hamburger daily, were technically permitted under the pyramid. The major points of criticism have been the pyramid's lack of differentiation within the protein-rich group ("Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts"), some lack of clarity with regard to recommended serving sizes and the pyramid's lack of emphasis on whole grains.

Also, when compared with diets that are thought to be the most healthy (e.g. Macrobiotic Diet , the quantities pyramid lists for each food type are completely different.