food pyramid

noun

1
: an ecological hierarchy of food relationships in which a chief predator is at the top, each level preys on the next lower level, and usually green plants are at the bottom
2
: a pyramid-shaped depiction of recommended daily servings for different food groups (such as vegetables, grains, dairy products, and meats)

Examples of food pyramid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web A little over a decade ago, the U.S. government’s classic food pyramid was replaced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s MyPlate, showing what a typical healthy, balanced meal should look like. Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2023 The government has often been gung ho in its health-education efforts: the U.S.D.A.’s nutritional guides and food pyramids, seventies Saturday-morning-cartoon P.S.A.s, Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023 Researchers have even observed this phenomenon, known as sensory specific satiety, among animals and children (who haven’t exactly memorized the food pyramid). Molly Glick, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2022 Where does hummus fall on this food pyramid? Wolfram Nothaft, Scientific American, 17 May 2022 At the same time as algae failed to deliver, the Green Revolution significantly improved yields of conventional crops, and algae was slowly transformed into a specialty product rather than the base of the food pyramid. Guest Blogger, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2012 In reflecting upon the Thanksgiving Day food pyramid, there is no need for discussion about what sits at the acme of this carbohydrate-laden, one-day feast. al, 20 Nov. 2022 But grain is the foundation of many of our diets, the all-important foundation of the food pyramid. Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Feb. 2022 Life isn’t easy for creatures at the top of the food pyramid. Jill Barth, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'food pyramid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of food pyramid was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near food pyramid

Cite this Entry

“Food pyramid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20pyramid. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

food pyramid

noun
: a series of levels of ecological food relationships arranged by levels in which a chief predator is at the top, each level preys on the next lower level, and green plants are usually at the bottom
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