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Food Guide Pyramid

The Food Guide Pyramid helps consumers follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Pyramid provides a visual framework for consumers to see the recommended number of servings of food from recognizable food groups in serving sizes expressed in household measures.

A range of servings for each food group allows for the different nutrient and calorie needs for differences in age, gender, and activity level. The goal for a diet following the Food Guide Pyramid is to be nutritionally adequate in protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, without excessive amounts of calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, added sugar, and alcohol.

The following guidelines apply to the Food Guide Pyramid:

  • Pyramid servings are assigned to all food items except some raw meats or inedible uncooked foods, formulas and other supplements, baby foods, alcoholic beverages, diet beverages, dry mixes, and most ingredients.
  • The knowledge base lists default servings for each food based on the assigned food classification. The food classification is a general food categorization that groups similar foods together.
  • You can customize Pyramid servings (as well as the assigned food classification) for all foods through the Foods editor.
  • Pyramid information is automatically calculated when you create a new food and add it to the knowledge base using the Foods editor. Based on the food classification you assign to the food, default Pyramid categories are used and the servings are automatically calculated.
  • Servings for a food may have a High Fat indicator (as seen on the Food Guide Pyramid report and the Foods editor), which signifies naturally occurring fat.
  • A Fat serving will be assigned if the food has added fat.
  • Servings will have a High Sugar indicator for both naturally occurring sugar and sugar added to the food.

In the Food Guide Pyramid Analysis Report, Lean Meat Equivalents (LME) appear in the Meat, Poultry, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nut group. The servings for the Meat Group appear in both servings and LMEs.

For example:

3 ounces cooked lean meat = 1 serving = 3 LME

1 large egg = 1/3 serving = 1 LME

In other words, 1 LME equals 1 ounce of cooked lean meat. In the Meat, Poultry, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts group, 5 to 7 LME (or two to three servings) are recommended per day.