Using the Food
Guide Pyramid

The Food Guide Pyramid, shown on
the next page, is a graphic illustration of
the Dietary Guidelines. The Food Guide
Pyramid helps you choose what and how
much to eat from each food group to get
necessary nutrients and not too many
calories, too much fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, sugar, sodium or alcohol.
The food groups include: (1) the bread,
cereal, rice and pasta group, (2) the
vegetable group, (3) the fruit group, (4)
the milk, yogurt and cheese group and (5)
the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs
and nuts group.

The bottom of the pyramid emphasizes the consumption of bread, cereals, rice, pasta, vegetables and fruits. The Dietary Guidelines recommend moderate intakes of foods that contain fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Finally, the smallest triangle at the top shows that fats, oils and sweets should be used sparingly because they provide calories and little else nutritionally.

The Food Guide Pyramid recommends the number of servings of foods that should be eaten daily. Preschool children need the same variety of foods as older family members do, but may need fewer calories. For fewer calories, they can eat smaller servings. No specific number of servings is recommended for fats, oils and sweets at the top of the pyramid.

Also, throughout the Pyramid, tiny circles symbolize naturally occurring and added fat. Tiny triangles symbolize sugar added to foods in processing or at the table. These symbols show that many foods contribute fat and sugar to the diet.

Each of the food groups of the Food Guide Pyramid provides important nutrients. Because one food group cannot provide all necessary nutrients, it is important to choose foods daily from all food groups.

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