The shape immediately suggests that some foods are good and should be eaten often, and that others aren’t so good and should be eaten only occasionally. Translating nutrition advice into a colorful pyramid is great way to illustrate what foods make up a healthy diet. The Healthy Eating Pyramid and the Healthy Eating Plate will change to reflect important new evidence.Ī look back: Problems with the Food Guide Pyramid and MyPyramid They aren’t set in stone, though, because nutrition researchers will undoubtedly turn up new information in the years ahead. The Healthy Eating Plate and the companion Healthy Eating Pyramid summarize the best dietary information available today.The Healthy Eating Pyramid also addresses other aspects of a healthy lifestyle- exercise, weight control, vitamin D, and multivitamin supplements, and moderation in alcohol for people who drink-so it’s a useful tool for health professionals and health educators.Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy oils, and healthy proteins like nuts, beans, fish, and chicken should make it into the shopping cart every week, along with a little yogurt or other dairy foods if desired.In fact, the Healthy Eating Pyramid and the Healthy Eating Plate (as well as the Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate) complement each other.Ĭonsumers can think of the Healthy Eating Pyramid as a grocery list: Generations of Americans are accustomed to the food pyramid design, and it’s not going away.