Tag: Basic four food groups

The first food pyramid was not developed in the United States, but rather in Sweden in 1974. This innovative model, created in response to rising food costs, divided foods into basic necessities and supplementary items to promote a balanced, affordable diet. In the U.S. during this time, the dietary guidance was still based on the older Basic Four food groups.

Before the well-known food pyramid, American nutrition was guided by simpler, more streamlined recommendations. The question, "what did the food pyramid look like in the 1950s," actually points to a different system entirely: the Basic Four food groups, a cornerstone of post-war dietary advice.

The USDA's 'Basic Four' food guide, introduced in 1956, remained the standard for American nutrition throughout the 1970s, featuring milk, meat, fruits and vegetables, and grain products. These guidelines, which defined what are the 4 food groups 1970, aimed to simplify earlier, more complex dietary advice.