In 1830 Adolphe Quetelet created the Body Mass Index (BMI) formula and ever since people have been obsessed with their BMI. Okay, a bit oversimplified.
Over the years there have been numerous attempts at identifying ways to maximize nutrition through a variety of guidelines. With National Nutrition Month underway, let’s review some of the attempts at nutritional guidance over the years.
1943
Amidst World War II rationing, in 1943, the Basic Seven was introduced. It divided foods into 7 groups:
Did You Know: The Culinary Institute of America was founded in 1946 to provide veterans with professional training.
1956
In 1956, Essentials of an Adequate Diet, cut those prior 7 food groups to a more manageable four:
1992
The next big step in nutritional guidelines occurred in 1992 when the Food Pyramid was introduced. It broke down food groups into 6 categories with daily serving recommendations.
2005
In 2005, things got personal with the Food Pyramid becoming everyone’s Pyramid with a name change to MyPyramid and food groups became wedges of the pyramid instead of bricks. Also, a stairwell on the side of the pyramid was included to indicate the importance of exercise.
2011
We round out the latest revision to nutritional guidelines with the MyPlate introduction. Designed to represent a physical meal, the plate literally states what percentage of the plate one of the four main food groups is supposed to occupy. Dairy was an addition to the plate.
