The USDA Food Pyramid and Its Alternatives

The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) food pyramid is a graphic organizer that was released in 1992 to convey the need to Americans to eat well. First conceived in the 60s, the idea of a food pyramid was the result of significant rises in Americans suffering heart disease. Three main ideas were the basis for the original food pyramid: proportion, moderation and variety. However, since 1992 the field of nutrition has matured and the facts illustrated in the USDA food pyramid are not necessarily still to the best of our knowledge. But one would do well to wonder if they ever were. …