Tag: Usda food guide

Since 1980, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have released updated nutrition recommendations every five years. The current official food guidance is built upon the *Dietary Guidelines for Americans* and visualized for the public through the MyPlate icon.

First introduced in the 1950s, the "Basic Four" food guide was still a dominant nutritional concept for Americans throughout the 1970s. Learn what are the 4 food groups in the 1970s and how this foundational advice shaped the dietary habits of a generation with a focus on nutrient adequacy.

For over a century, the USDA has been issuing nutrition recommendations to Americans, with the first guidelines published in 1894 as a Farmers' Bulletin. The current iteration, MyPlate, serves as a modern, visual reminder for healthier eating, replacing the well-known food pyramids of the past.

In 1974, a Swedish educator and home economist named Anna-Britt Agnsäter designed and unveiled the very first visual food pyramid to the public. The creation was a direct response to rising food costs and the need to promote an affordable, healthy diet among the population. This initial version is the true origin of the concept, predating the more widely known American interpretation.

The USDA food guide for the years 2005 to 2011 was known as MyPyramid, a successor to the original Food Guide Pyramid. This version introduced a new visual design with color-coded vertical bands to emphasize personalization and physical activity, representing a major shift in public health messaging.

Over 7 million MyPlate graphics and educational materials were downloaded in its first year, demonstrating high public interest. This visual icon was launched to answer the need for a simpler, clearer representation of federal dietary guidelines, which raises the question: where did MyPlate come from?

According to the USDA, the Basic Four was the official dietary guide from 1956 until 1979. In the 1960s, a simplified approach to eating led to the creation of this model, which featured the four food groups: milk, meat, fruits and vegetables, and bread and cereal.

The idea of a triangular guide to healthy eating didn't originate in the United States, as many assume. To truly understand the evolution of nutritional guidance, one must examine the specific origins and question: **When did they invent the food pyramid?**