A food pyramid is basically a graphical representation or description of the foods that you should be eating on a daily basis and the quantity in which they should be served. It has a shape that resembles a pyramid and hence the name. The pyramid is divided into four tiers which will be explained in the following paragraphs.
The lowest tier:
This contains foods like cereals, rice, pasta and rice. This food group represents foods that should be consumed in the largest amounts because they contain fiber, starch, and complex carbohydrates that provide the body with the energy that it needs to function properly. Experts recommend that you have at least six servings of this group of foods per day. The maximum amount of servings should be eleven.
The second tier:
The second tier is divided into two parts or groups, the first contains fruits and the second one contains vegetables. Fruits and vegetables as we all know provide our bodies with essential minerals and vitamins that the body requires in order to function properly. One should have as many as four servings of vegetables and three servings of different fruits per day.
The third tier:
The third tier also known as the proteins tear which consists of mostly foods that are high in protein. These include meat, beans, milk, eggs, fish and more. They are important as they help our bodies grow, and help in restoration and repair of worn out tissues and the healing of wounds. With all its benefits, over consumption of protein is highly criticized, as proteins can be difficult to digest therefore the body will spend more time and energy in digesting them.� Hence it should only be eating twice a day.
The fourth tier:
This contains fats, oils and sweets. And it is the type of foods that should be consumed less. This is due to the fact that they may cause many different problems such as obesity and even heart problems.
There are many different problems which can be associated with diet. Parents especially have the obligation to feed their children properly when they are young because they are going to carry this diet throughout their lives. But many adult conditions can be cured or at least contained by changing one’s diet to include proper nutrition and vitamins. This includes giving your body a healthy cleanse once in a while. By this I mean you must stop eating rubbish food for a while and only eat good clean healthy items from the food pyramid.
