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!