The USDA food pyramid has been inadequate since its inception in 1992. It is accepted that each day we need to consume protein, fat, and carbohydrates, in addition to the 8 essential amino acids, a lot of water, and some vitamins and minerals. The sources of our nutrients and their volume, however, have been argued for centuries. The USDA food pyramid is so steeped in politics, $$$, and other non-food-related power struggles, it has caused a series of rebuttals over the years from a myriad of specialists and individuals alike, all eager to add their two cents. Below is a sampling of these alternative pyramids, some helpful, some witty, and some literally flipping the pyramid concept on its head.

Each image demonstrates the brilliantly iconic form of the pyramid, while also exposing the limitations of trying to encapsulate a diet in an isosceles triangle. These are just the tip of the iceberg.

Official Advice from the USDA

MyPyramid [MyPyramid]
The USDA updated the pyramid in 2005 to include exercise and also developed different programs depending on age, sex, and weight. While small steps were made, the pyramid is still lacking an emphasis on whole grains, grouping together meat, fish, legumes, and nuts, and advocating a substantial amount of dairy. In other words, the corporations are still controlling the American diet.

Old USDA Pyramid [MyPyramid]
Forms of this pyramid were used up through 2005. Again, this one does not distinguish between whole and processed grains, or give enough emphasis on vegetables. It also groups meat, fish, nuts, and legumes all in one category as though they are equal sources of protein, has an entire section for dairy products, and relegates all fats to the top.

What the fads, corporations, and Japanese government have produced

Weightloss Pyramid [Easy Weightloss Pills]
One of the many weight loss programs that suggest a whole lot of fruit and vegetables, sticking to whole grains, liming proteins, drinking a lot of water, cutting out dairy, and boosting your energy with vitamins.

BIG Foods for Kids [Felt Source]
For kids, this “educational” poster is all but screaming about Jiffy, Dannon, Sunkist, Monsanto, and Kraft.

Raw Food Pyramid [Watershed Wellness Center]

Japan, Courtesy of Big Food [I am a Viking]
Healthy “food lifestyle” poster developed by the non-governmental organization Japanese called the Zaidan Houjin Shokuseikatsu Jouhou Saabisu Sentaa who get much of their funding from large food corporations.

Japanese Pyramid [I am a Viking]
Tim at I am a Viking’s estimation of what the Japanese government’s food pyramid could look like.

Pure diet Zen in a triangle

Healthy Food Pyramid (2000) [Kid Cyber]
This reasonably healthy pyramid, as far as flat graphical “representations” of a diet go, is specifically geared towards students (K-6) in Australia.

Okinawa Diet [Okinawa Program]
This diet relegated some foods to only weekly consumption. Calcium-rich daily foods find their way into the bottom of the pyramid. Vegetables and grains are given equal proportion. Eggs, meat, and poultry are optional weekly foods.

Healing Foods Pyramid [University of Michigan Integrative Medicine]

Harvard’s Response to the Updated USDA Pyramid [Harvard School of Public Health]
In 2008 Harvard responded to the updated USDA MyPyramid with this one emphasizing exercise, whole foods, and moderation. The Harvard pyramid also places an emphasis on healthy fats, poultry, eggs, and fish, and suggests limiting intake of dairy and red meat.

Paleolithic Pyramid [Nikkisblogspot.com]
A blogger suggests a return to the Paleolithic diet, which means eating foods we can forage for at a ratio of 65% animal and 35% plant, eliminating diary, sugar, and oils.

Great feats and SAD modern diets

How to Eat on a $100/mo Budget (Feb 2009) [Mount Desert Islander]
This “pyramid” indicates how the author, Nicole Ouellette, eats on a $100 a month budget. She advocates sticking to the whole foods, cutting down on meat, only eating when she’s hungry, cooking for friends, and making things from scratch.

Writer’s Food Pyramid [Salon]

Avery’s Jelly Belly Food Pyramid [Xanga Profile]

Adrienne’s Food Pyramid [Randomn3ss]

The Modern Vegan [The River Reporter]
An image of what vegans CAN eat, including all the “dairy” products. Of course vegans can’t survive without modern food companies. Duh.

The Toxins in Our Food [Big Picture]
A provocative image about the toxic chemicals that are finding their way into our food system and unknowingly into our diets.

If Kids Designed the Food Pyramid [Epicurious]

If you think the original is ridiculous, how about these?

Zombie Diet [Ambrosia Software]

Randy Caparoso’s Dude Pyramid [The Dude is Everywhere]

SAD Diet w/ easy access to the burial chamber

Dessert Truck Pyramid [Chow]

If a pyramid can’t represent our diet, maybe it can be our diet

Bento Lunchbox Pyramid [Fubiz]
This bento pyramid hybrid by Li Jianye is broken out into three tiers for different food groups. Good for snacks, maybe, but how do you stuff a sandwich into that one?