The pyramid shape is perhaps one of the better known food guides.
This guide conveys the concept of variety and relative amounts to eat
from the various food groups. The food pyramid concept has been used
widely in Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.
However, because of differences in communicating symbolism and other
cultural differences, the pyramid is not necessarily the graphic of
choice for food guides worldwide.
In other countries, rainbows, circles, fans and even a chalice are
used to represent the "optimal" diet. The different graphics depict
cultural norms and symbols as well as the emphasis of the dietary
guidelines of each country. In developed countries, food guides tend to
promote a diet that prevents chronic disease. In developing countries,
however, the guide needs to depict both the prevention of chronic
disease and the alleviation of nutrient deficiencies. The two conditions
often co-exist in developing countries making the development of one
symbol more challenging.
Despite the different pictorial representations, different
communities communicate similar themes. Food guide graphics from
countries as diverse as Italy and South Africa convey a common message -
balance, variety and moderation in food choices. While the number of
food groups displayed in the graphics varies from country to country,
most guides attempt to illustrate the food group's optimal proportion of
the total diet. For instance, based on the Singapore Dietary Pyramid,
the largest part of the pyramid shape - rice, noodles, breads and
cereals - should be taken in the greatest proportion in the diet.
Vegetables and fruits are the next biggest group, followed by meat and
dairy products. At the apex of the pyramid are foods - such as oils,
fats, sugars and sugary foods and salt and salty foods - that should be
eaten in the smallest amounts. This is consistent with Singapore's
national dietary guidelines.
In Thailand, an inverted pyramid in the shape of a downward-facing
flag has recently been developed as the country's food guide. Research
showed that consumer understanding of the eating guide concept was
vastly improved in Thailand by having the largest amounts at the top and
the smaller amounts at the bottom of the graphic.
The wheel or dinner plate design is a popular graphic that represents
the total diet, with each section depicting a food group and its
relative proportion of the total diet. This design is used in the United
Kingdom, Germany and Norway, among other countries. Many of the food
guide graphics are unique to their respective countries. In Japan, the
optimal diet is depicted by the numeral six to remind consumers of the
six food groups.
Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating is a four-banded rainbow, with
each colour representing one of its four food groups. The rainbow shows
that all food groups are important but different amounts are needed from
each group. The larger outer arcs of the rainbow are the grain products
and fruits and vegetables. According to Canada's dietary guidelines,
these foods should make up a larger part of a healthy eating plan.
Similarly, the smaller inner arcs make up the milk products and meat and
meat alternatives that should make up a smaller amount of a healthy
eating plan.
Many of the food guides around the world emphasise the bread, cereals
and grain foods as the largest part of the diet. In China, a pagoda is
used as a food guide, with the cereal group forming the base of the
pagoda and smaller levels used for the rest of the food groups. Israel's
chalice graphic illustrates the importance of water for overall health
by placing "water" at the topmost and largest section of the chalice.
Israel is one of the few food guides that characterise water as a
principal part of the diet.
South Africa's food guide graphic contains the least number of food
groups and organises food in a unique way - according to the food's
function in the body. Group One contains "Energy food" and includes
margarine, grains, porridge and maize. The second group is entitled
"Body Building Food" and includes chicken, beans, milk and eggs. The
third group is "Protective Food" to protect the body from illness and
includes fruits and vegetables.
You've undoubtedly heard the term "a picture paints a thousand words"
before. Nutrition education has long proven this idiom to ring true
through the use of food models and pictures to depict foods and portion
sizes. Likewise, symbols such as a heart, checkmate or apple are often
used on food packaging or restaurant menus to depict healthier food
choices.
The primary role of food guides is to communicate an optimal diet for
overall health of the population. Whether a star, pagoda or square is
used, all are meant to improve quality of life and nutritional
well-being in a simple and understandable way.
