Nutritionists and dieticians throughout the world have been on the lookout for the perfect diet regime. Among other requirements, this regime should be helpful in maintaining human fitness and provide for the nutritional needs of the body. Of all the ideas generated by researchers, the food pyramid is the most promising.

Ann-Britt Agnsater gave this brilliant idea to the world when she visualized the food guide in the form of a pyramid for a co-operative test kitchen in Sweden. It did not take much time for it to conquer Europe. Later on, the whole world realized the importance of this simple dietary tool towards community health. It has also proved to be a boon for people seeking weight loss help.

In order to provide advice on a "balanced diet" nutritionists and doctors have been looking for easy visualization tools which will be simple to use. In order for a diet to be called balanced it needs to supply carbohydrates, proteins, fats, roughage. It also needs the right quantities of vitamins and minerals.

Many different options for the food pyramid can be found. The most widely referenced version comes from the United States Department of Agriculture. This government agency oversees food, diet and nutrition. This recommended diagram includes advice for individuals centered on whether they are male or female, young or old, body size and height.

In all there are six divisions on the food pyramid. On the extreme left are grains with the minimum prescribed intake of three ounces. It is recommended that grains with fibers (roughage), or "whole grains" be used. Then the next division is leafy greens, orange colored veggies, and beans. Next are fruits and it is advised to eat fruits instead of taking fruit juices.

Use of a combination of low cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acid containing oils is preferable for healthy life. Next preference is for milk and milk products like cheese. Lastly, rich sources of proteins such as meat and beans are preferred. To summarize, use a combination of lean meat/beans in the diet. Baking, broiling and grilling are advisable as compared to frying.