Why are the serving guidelines for the Food Guide Pyramid unrealistic?
No one eats one-half cup of pasta or two ounces of meat.

The Food Guide Pyramid is designed to meet your nutritional needs, not just your appetite, said Dr. Karen Cullen, a behavioral nutritionist with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. And, given the rapidly increasing girth of Americans and the very real role of nutrition in disease prevention, the messages of "smaller" portions, balance and variety that form the basis of the Pyramid are far from outdated.

Because individual needs vary, the Pyramid suggests a range for the number of servings in each food group. The lower number is about right for an inactive woman, while the higher number is for teenage boys and more active individuals. Nearly everyone else should choose numbers of servings within the range. Healthy individuals who actually follow the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for serving sizes and number of servings for each food group can rest assured that they are getting all the nutrients they need without excess fat and calories.

To learn more about the Food Guide Pyramid, see the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion