The Food “Pyramid”

Changes Over the Last Century

1916: Food For Young Children

• USDA first food guide

• Food classified into five groups:• Cereals• Veggies and

Fruits• Milk and

Meat• Fats and

Fatty Foods• Sugars and

Sugary Foods

1917: How To Select Foods

• Came out one year later

• Expanded the food guide into a 14 page pamphlet

1943: The Basic Seven• Suggested

number of servings per food group

• Did not include serving sizes

• Included seven food groups• milk and milk

products• meat, poultry, fish,

eggs, beans, peas and nuts

• bread, flour and cereals

• leafy green and yellow vegetables

• potatoes and sweet potatoes

• citrus, tomato, cabbage and salad greens

• butter and margarine

1956: The Basic Four

• Simplified the “Basic Seven”

• Included serving sizes in four food groups• Milk• Meat• Veggies and

Fruits• Grain

1979: Hassle-Free Guide To A Better Diet

• Kept the “Basic Four”

• Added moderate consumption of an additional group: Fats, sweets, and alcohol

1984: Food Wheel – A Pattern For Daily Food Choices

• A collaboration of the USDA and the Red Cross

• Included amounts of foods for three different calorie levels

1992: Food Guide Pyramid

• The one most people remember

• Split the servings into proportions of a pyramid

• What could be some problems with this model?

2005: MyPyramid Food Guidance System

• Simplified the food pyramid

• Added a band for oils

• Includes representation of physical activity

• What are some advantages and disadvantages for this model?

2011: MyPlate• Iconic food

guide easier to measure servings for each group

• Emphasizes five food groups:• Grains• Fruits• Veggies• Protein (not

meats)• Dairy (not

milk)

• What are the major changes between this model and the MyPyramid model? Why were these changes made?

How does this relate to Visual Rhetoric? The food guide has changed to fit the

purposes of nutrition today Healthy eating and exercise are emphasized

today MyPlate is available online as a “nutrition

tracker” to fit with the advancements in technology

The “Basic Seven” are no longer appropriate for the purposes of nutrition today

MyPlate offers more of an appeal to the eye than the data and facts listed in earlier food guides

How does this help me understand Visual Rhetoric?

Certain visuals are inappropriate for certain purposes (The “Basic Seven” are not appropriate for today’s nutrition standards)

Make sure your visuals fit your purpose There are good visuals and appropriate

visuals…Use the latter!