The food guide pyramid, informally known as the food pyramid, and formally titled the Improved American Food Guide Pyramid is a historical nutrition guide published in 1992 by the USDA to replace the earlier food groups classification system. The food guide pyramid suggested optimal nutrition guidelines for each food category, per day, using a mnemonic graphic of a pyramid with horizontal dividing lines, to represent suggested percentages of the daily diet for each food group. The food guide pyramid was superseded by the current USDA nutrition advisory program titled "MyPyramid" in April 2005.

"The foundation of this pyramid is Self-Actualization. An American must satisfy this step before they can move up the hierarchy. The American usually grows up in a comfortable atmosphere where food, shelter, and clothing are in abundance. At this point in time the young American has no struggles. All he can do is ponder the artificial..."

The USDA and public health advocates recognize that Americans are eating too much fat and sugar, and too few fruits and vegetables. The Food Guide Pyramid recommends eating several times more servings of fruits & vegetables than meat, yet the government pours much more funding into farming livestock than growing fresh produce.

A new food guide pyramid, based on traditional Latin American foods, from the group that created The Mediterranean Diet.

Americans are fat, no doubt about it. Over the years, many people have attempted to speculate why. Some have suggested that the food pyramid is fucked up. Others have accused fast food restaurants citing the typical amount of trans fat in an order of French fries. Still others have blamed thyroid problems, psychological disabilities.....

The food pyramid is a nutritional guide published primarily by the federal government to provide proper dietary information or instruction to the American. As like anything organic, the food pyramid has constantly evolved since its inception.