The Italian food pyramid is a version of the United States Department of Agriculture food pyramid but aimed at those following a Mediterranean diet or Italian diet. The original food pyramid was designed to try to reverse the growing trend of heart disease and other diseases caused by poor nutrition and poor diet. In the US this is because the population has more of a tendency to eat junk food and skimp on the essential vitamins provided by fruits and vegetables.

So how is the Italian food pyramid different? The Italian food pyramid basically focuses on more of the foods that make up the Mediterranean diet. There is much more emphasis on eating foods that are plant-based. Italians and Mediterraneans not only eat much more fruit and vegetables, but also eat much more grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, olives, and olive oil. This will always be a good healthy meal, packed with vitamins and minerals. There is also much more emphasis on eating fish and shellfish at least twice a week.

It has been shown in recent years that the healthiness of the Mediterranean diet has a lot to do with the fact that Italians and Mediterranean people in general have far fewer chronic diseases associated with the Western diet, such as heart attacks and strokes, etc. . The Italian food pyramid is one of the most nutritious food pyramids in the world. It is also one of the tastiest food pyramids to follow. Italian cuisine, along with all Mediterranean cuisines, incorporates some of the best food that is grown in the region.