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The food guide pyramid is a nutrition planning tool developed by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It provides guidance on nutrition and physical activity that's appropriate for generally healthy people age 2 and older. The online tool allows you to enter your age, gender and activity level to provide personalized information.

In 2005, the USDA did a complete makeover of the old Food Guide Pyramid. This version, called "MyPyramid, Steps to a Healthier You," uses colored blocks and easy symbols to communicate a few key concepts.

Colors mean food groups
Each color on the pyramid is a pie slice that represents a food group:

• Orange - grains
• Green - vegetables
• Red - fruits
• Yellow - oils and fats
• Blue - milk and other calcium-rich foods
• Purple - meats and beans

Width means proportion
The width of each slice differs.

• The wider wedges - Orange, green, red and blue - represent the food groups from which you need the most foods each day (grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy).
• The thinner purple slice (meats and beans) represents proteins, from which you need to choose daily. Choose fewer, leaner servings from this group, though.
• The very narrow yellow wedge (fats) is the group from which you should choose most sparingly.

Climbing steps means "be active!"
MyPyramid shows a figure walking up the steps of the pyramid. When you think of MyPyramid, associate eating right with activity. Whatever you choose to do - jogging, swimming or more walking - is up to you and your doctor. The goal is for you to associate the action figure with exercise and to combine diet with exercise.

The staircase means one step at a time
MyPyramid's staircase symbolizes a "one-step-at-a-time" approach to eating right and exercise.

So, where's the food?
Rather than overwhelm you with images of different foods and numbers of servings per day, MyPyramid is meant to be a simple symbol to get you off on the right foot. MyPyramid is intended to help you grasp the following concepts:

• We need all "colors" (food groups) in our diet.
• The thicker the colored slice, the more we need from that food group. The thinner, the less we need.
• Activity is an important factor in staying healthy.
• MyPyramid is your pyramid.

Build your own food pyramid
You can learn to build your own food pyramid. Your own medical condition or dietary preferences will come into play. These are the building blocks you'll need:

• Food groups: Look at all food groups and see how your diet compares. For example, ask yourself, "Do I eat fruits and vegetables every day?"
• Servings: You need to get a certain amount of each food group in "servings per day" or "ounces per day." Use the quantity that you will best remember.
• Specifics: Each food group comes with instructions. Learn them one step at a time. For example, first focus on increasing the foods from the grains group. Then learn how to increase whole grains.
• Exercise: Everyone's activity or exercise program is unique. Talk to your doctor before you start any exercise program. The basic idea is simple, though: Even a little can go a long way. Incorporate exercise or increased activity into your daily life. Choose things you enjoy.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture. Accessed May 23, 2008.

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