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
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
Guided by this logic, the food pyramid, the triangle instrument and pizza slices would also be satanic.
—Nayeli Lomeli, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2021
See More
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
Guided by this logic, the food pyramid, the triangle instrument and pizza slices would also be satanic.
—Nayeli Lomeli, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2021
See More
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
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 29 Sep. 2023.
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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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