Why are the bands in MyPyramid different sizes?

December 22, 2025 •

3 min read

Created in 2005 by the USDA, MyPyramid served as a prominent food guidance system for several years. The iconic graphic, with its vibrant vertical bands of different widths, was designed to visually communicate important nutritional messages, but many consumers were left asking: why are the bands in MyPyramid different sizes?

Quick Summary

The varying widths of MyPyramid's colored bands represented the proportional quantity of foods to choose from each food group. Wider bands indicated larger recommended servings, while narrower bands signified smaller amounts for a balanced diet.

Key Points

Proportionality: The width of each band represented the relative amount of food to consume from each food group daily.
Grain Emphasis: The orange band, representing grains, was the widest, indicating that grains should form the largest part of a person's diet.
Moderation in Oils: The narrowest yellow band for oils showed that fats and oils should be used sparingly.
Personalized Guidance: The graphic was a symbol for a personalized diet plan available on the USDA's website, accounting for age, sex, and activity level.
Balancing Calories and Activity: The image of a person climbing steps on the pyramid emphasized the importance of daily physical activity.
Evolution of Dietary Advice: MyPyramid replaced the 1992 pyramid and was later succeeded by MyPlate, reflecting evolving nutrition science and communication strategies.

Decoding MyPyramid's Proportionality

MyPyramid, the USDA's food guide from 2005 to 2011, featured six vertical, colored bands of varying widths to represent the concept of 'proportionality' in a healthy diet. The width of each band corresponded to the relative amount of food one should consume from that food group. The wider base of the pyramid suggested choosing foods with less solid fat and added sugars more often, while the narrower top indicated moderation for foods higher in fats and sugars.

The Meaning Behind Each Band

Each of the six colored bands represented a different food group:

Orange (Grains): The widest band, emphasizing the largest proportion of daily intake, with a focus on whole grains.
Green (Vegetables): The second-widest band, promoting a high intake of various vegetables.
Red (Fruits): A substantial band encouraging consumption of whole fruits.
Blue (Milk): Representing dairy, favoring fat-free or low-fat options.
Purple (Meat & Beans): Protein sources, including lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and nuts.
Yellow (Oils): The narrowest band, indicating oils and healthy fats should be consumed in the smallest proportions.

The Importance of Personalization

MyPyramid aimed to provide personalized dietary guidance. The printed graphic offered a general visual guide, but individuals were directed to the mypyramid.gov website (now MyPlate) to receive customized food intake recommendations based on factors like age, sex, and activity level. This personalization was a key difference from previous food guides.

MyPyramid vs. Food Guide Pyramid vs. MyPlate

Comparing MyPyramid to its predecessors and successor highlights its unique approach to dietary guidance. The 1992 Food Guide Pyramid used horizontal levels and often vague serving sizes. MyPyramid introduced vertical, colored bands and emphasized personalization through its website. MyPlate, which replaced MyPyramid in 2011, offers a simpler, meal-based visual guide with four unequal sections and a separate cup for dairy, focusing on actionable portioning. MyPyramid also included a visual cue of a person climbing stairs to represent physical activity, which was not explicitly present in the earlier pyramid.


Feature	1992 Food Guide Pyramid	2005 MyPyramid	2011 MyPlate
Visual Design	Horizontal levels.	Vertical, colored bands of varying widths.	Four unequal sections on a plate.
Portions	Vague serving sizes.	Personalized recommendations online.	Simple mealtime portioning cues.
Key Message	Eat more base foods, less top foods.	Proportionality, variety, moderation.	Fill half your plate with fruits/vegetables.
Focus	Food groups.	Personalization and activity.	Meal-by-meal guidance.
Physical Activity	Not visually represented.	Represented by a person climbing stairs.	Not explicitly on the plate.

How MyPyramid's Visuals Impacted Nutrition Education

MyPyramid's different-sized bands were an attempt to improve on the ambiguity of the earlier Food Guide Pyramid. The graphic's abstract nature and reliance on a website for details proved confusing for many. MyPlate later provided a simpler visual for immediate guidance. Learn more about the evolution of food guides at the {Link: NIH https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1681673/}.

Conclusion: A Stepping Stone to Modern Guidance

In conclusion, the different sizes of the bands in MyPyramid were a deliberate design choice intended to represent the recommended proportion of foods from each food group. The widths visually conveyed the concept of proportionality—suggesting larger portions of grains, vegetables, and fruits, and smaller portions of oils, dairy, and meat/beans. While the visual alone lacked the detailed guidance required for a healthy diet, it was designed to be used in conjunction with a personalized online tool. MyPyramid's legacy lies in its innovative attempt to personalize dietary advice, paving the way for simpler, more direct guides like MyPlate, which continues to shape public health messages today.

Frequently Asked Questions

The six colored bands in MyPyramid each represented a different food group: orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, yellow for oils, blue for milk and dairy, and purple for meat and beans.

The orange band, representing the grain group, was the widest. This indicated that grains should make up the largest proportion of one's daily food intake.

Yes, the widths shown on the printed graphic were a general guide. For personalized, specific dietary recommendations, individuals were directed to the MyPyramid website where a plan tailored to their age, sex, and activity level could be generated.

The narrowest band, colored yellow, represented oils and healthy fats. Its minimal width signified that these foods should be consumed in the smallest quantities.

MyPyramid promoted a balanced diet through the principle of proportionality, visually represented by the varying band widths. It encouraged a variety of foods from all groups while emphasizing moderation.

The person climbing the stairs on the side of the pyramid was a visual reminder of the importance of daily physical activity in balancing food intake and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

MyPyramid was replaced because it was often confusing and misinterpreted. MyPlate was introduced as a simpler, more direct, and actionable visual guide that represents an actual meal setting.

The band widths represented the proportion of food from each group, but for the exact number of servings or quantities, the online tool was needed. The guide moved away from fixed 'serving' sizes towards personalized caloric needs.