The Pyramid is an outline of what to eat each day. It's not a rigid prescription, but a general guide that lets you choose a healthful diet that's right for you. The Pyramid calls for eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients you need at the same time the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight. The Food Pyramid emphasizes foods from the five food groups shown in the three lower sections of the Pyramid.

Each of these food groups provides some, but not all, of the nutrients you need. Foods in one group can't replace those of another. No one food group is more important than another- for good health, you need them all.

What is the proper serving size?

How can I eat healthy at fast food restaurants?