Nutrition Diet: What is the modern version of food pyramid called?

October 13, 2025 •

5 min read

The USDA's MyPlate program was launched in 2011 to replace the outdated Food Guide Pyramid with a new visual guide that is easier for consumers to understand and apply. This article explores what is the modern version of food pyramid called and how this modern nutrition diet approach simplifies healthy eating.

Quick Summary

The modern food guide, called MyPlate, replaces the food pyramid with a visual representation of a plate divided into five food groups to promote balanced meals and proper portioning.

Key Points

MyPlate is the Modern Standard: The modern version of the food pyramid is called MyPlate, an initiative launched by the USDA in 2011 to replace previous food guide graphics.
Intuitive Visual Guide: MyPlate simplifies nutrition by using a familiar plate and glass graphic to demonstrate the five food groups and their recommended proportions for a balanced meal.
Focus on Proportionality: Unlike the old pyramid's tiered structure, MyPlate emphasizes filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables and splitting the other half between grains and protein.
Access Personalized Guidance: The MyPlate.gov website offers online tools and resources for creating personalized eating plans based on individual characteristics like age and activity level.
Emphasis on Whole Foods: The MyPlate recommendations encourage a focus on whole fruits, varied vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy while limiting added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
Global Diversity in Food Guides: MyPlate is the U.S. model; other countries use different guides, such as the UK's Eatwell Guide or the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, reflecting diverse cultural eating patterns.

The Evolution of Official Food Guides

The concept of an official food guide to help citizens make healthy choices is not new. In the United States, such guidance has evolved significantly over the decades, driven by changing nutritional science and an ongoing effort to improve public communication. Early guides, like the 'Basic Seven' introduced in 1943 during World War II, were focused on ensuring nutrient adequacy during times of food scarcity. This was later simplified into the 'Basic Four' in the 1950s.

The most widely recognized predecessor was the Food Guide Pyramid, introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1992. It arranged food groups into horizontal tiers, with the largest portion—grains—at the base and fats and sweets at the very tip, to be used sparingly. While iconic, critics found the pyramid confusing and felt it overemphasized certain food groups while failing to offer practical portion-size guidance.

In 2005, the USDA launched MyPyramid, a more abstract, redesigned pyramid with colored vertical bands, an exercise component, and a website for personalized guidance. However, this version also faced criticism for being complex and less intuitive than intended. This set the stage for a new, simpler approach.

What is MyPlate? The Modern Food Guide

Recognizing the limitations of the pyramid format, the USDA introduced MyPlate in 2011 to serve as the nation's primary food guide. The new visual represents a plate and glass divided into five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. The familiar mealtime setting makes MyPlate an easy-to-understand visual reminder for building healthy meals.

A Visual Guide for Modern Eating

The MyPlate graphic visually simplifies the recommended proportions for a balanced meal. The plate is divided so that vegetables and fruits make up roughly half, while grains and protein comprise the other half. This design offers a powerful, intuitive visual cue that can be applied to any meal, whether at home or in a restaurant.

How MyPlate Simplifies Nutrition

MyPlate's success lies in its simplicity and practicality. Instead of abstract tiers and complex serving numbers, it provides an at-a-glance guide to proper portion distribution. The MyPlate website, MyPlate.gov, offers free resources and tools to support this visual advice.

Customization: You can create a personalized MyPlate Plan based on your age, gender, height, weight, and activity level.
Resources: The site provides budget-friendly recipes, shopping tips, and educational materials to help put the guidelines into practice.
Mobile App: The 'Start Simple with MyPlate' app allows users to set and track daily food goals.

MyPlate vs. The Food Pyramid: A Comparison

The shift from the pyramid to the plate represents more than just a change in shape; it reflects an evolution in nutritional thinking and communication. The table below highlights some of the key differences between the two guides.


Feature	Food Guide Pyramid (1992)	MyPlate (2011)
Visual Representation	Horizontal tiers arranged in a pyramid shape.	A plate divided into proportional sections with a side glass.
Primary Focus	Emphasized a total daily number of servings for each food group.	Reminds consumers of healthy food proportions at each meal.
Serving Guidance	Abstract and sometimes confusing; many overestimated serving sizes.	Intuitive visual of a dinner plate, making portioning much clearer.
Fats & Sweets	Explicitly included a top tier for fats, oils, and sweets, advising to 'use sparingly'.	These are not included as a food group, implying they should be limited or avoided.
Customization	General, one-size-fits-all recommendations for three calorie levels.	Personalized guidance is a key feature, available through online tools.
Physical Activity	Not explicitly shown in the original 1992 version.	Not included in the core graphic, but a related component in broader USDA guidance.

Beyond MyPlate: Global Food Guides

It is important to remember that MyPlate is the official guidance for the United States. Many other countries and regions have developed their own visual dietary guides tailored to their cultural eating patterns. Examples include the UK's Eatwell Guide, which uses a plate model, and the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, which places emphasis on fruits, vegetables, grains, and olive oil with physical activity at the base. These variations highlight the fact that while the core principles of a balanced diet are universal, their representation can differ significantly based on local food habits and health priorities.

Using MyPlate for a Balanced Nutrition Diet

Adopting the MyPlate model into your daily nutrition diet is a practical way to ensure you are receiving a balanced intake of nutrients. The key is to visualize the proportions and make simple adjustments.

Practical Tips for Following MyPlate

Half a plate of fruits and vegetables: Aim to fill half your plate with a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits. The more colors you include, the wider the range of vitamins and antioxidants you'll get.
Make half your grains whole grains: Choose whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, or quinoa over refined grains like white bread and white rice.
Vary your protein: Select lean protein sources such as fish, poultry, beans, and nuts. Limit red and processed meats.
Move to low-fat or fat-free dairy: Opt for low-fat milk, yogurt, or fortified soy alternatives to meet your calcium needs without excess fat.
Limit empty calories: Foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium should be limited and are not part of the core MyPlate food groups.

Conclusion: The Modern Take on Healthy Eating

MyPlate, the modern successor to the food pyramid, offers a clear and practical guide for balanced eating. By using a familiar plate visual, it effectively communicates the importance of proportionality and variety in a healthy diet. The transition from the confusing pyramid to the intuitive plate marks a significant improvement in nutrition education, providing a more accessible tool for consumers. While other countries have their own models, MyPlate remains an invaluable resource in the United States, helping individuals make informed and healthier food choices with the aid of powerful online tools. For more information, visit the official MyPlate website to create your personalized plan and access a wealth of resources on healthy eating.

Helpful MyPlate resources

For more information on adopting a healthy eating style, the MyPlate website is an excellent starting point: https://www.myplate.gov/.

Frequently Asked Questions

MyPlate uses a simple, intuitive visual of a plate and glass to show food proportions at mealtimes, while the old Food Pyramid used a tiered, abstract design with recommended daily serving ranges that many found confusing to apply practically.

The USDA officially replaced the Food Guide Pyramid with the MyPlate icon in June 2011, concluding 19 years of using the pyramid-style diagrams.

MyPlate illustrates five key food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy, using sections on a plate and a side circle for dairy to represent their proportion in a healthy meal.

MyPlate deliberately leaves out a specific section for fats and sugars, in contrast to the old pyramid. This implicitly suggests that foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium should be limited and are not considered a primary food group.

Yes, MyPlate offers personalized eating plans on its website (MyPlate.gov). You can input information like your age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level to get a customized plan.

No, MyPlate is the food guide for the United States. Many other countries, such as the UK (Eatwell Guide) and those following the Mediterranean diet, have developed their own specific visual dietary guides.

MyPlate helps with portion control by offering a clear visual reference. By filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables, and the remaining half with protein and grains, you can more easily gauge appropriate portion sizes without needing to count servings.

MyPlate provides general guidance for healthy eating. While its proportions can be a good starting point for individuals with chronic conditions, specific food choices and personalized recommendations should be discussed with a registered dietitian.