Mean Food Guide Pyramid servings of 11–18 years olds with one day of dietary data from the four USDA surveys
| Food group | 1965 | 1977 | 1989–91 | 1994–96 |
| Dairy | 2.5 (0.07)3-152 | 2.3 (0.05)3-154 | 2.2 (0.07) | 2.0 (0.05) |
| Grain | 6.6 (0.12)3-150 3-152 | 6.2 (0.07)3-153 3-154 | 7.1 (0.20) | 7.7 (0.11) |
| Fruit (incl. juices) | 1.4 (0.06) | 1.1 (0.04) | 1.2 (0.07) | 1.4 (0.04) |
| Vegetables (all) | 2.7 (0.06)3-150 3-152 | 3.0 (0.06) | 3.0 (0.10)3-160 | 3.3 (0.07) |
| White potato | 0.8 (0.02)3-150 3-151 3-152 | 1.1 (0.03)3-154 | 1.3 (0.08) | 1.5 (0.06) |
| Meat (ounces) | ||||
| Meat, poultry, and fish3-164 | 5.6 (0.12)3-150 3-151 3-152 | 5.0 (0.07)3-153 3-154 | 4.0 (0.10) | 4.0 (0.09) |
| Eggs3-161 | 0.7 (0.02)3-150 3-151 3-152 | 0.5 (0.01)3-153 3-154 | 0.3 (0.03) | 0.3 (0.02) |
| Nuts and seeds3-162 | 0.3 (0.03)3-150 3-151 3-152 | 0.1 (0.01) | 0.1 (0.02) | 0.2 (0.01) |
Results expressed as mean (SEM).
The four USDA surveys are the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey 1965 and 1977, and the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals 1989–91 and 1994–96.
↵3-150 Significant differences between 1965 and 1977, p<0.001.
↵3-151 Significant differences between 1965 and 1989, p<0.001.
↵3-152 Significant differences between 1965 and 1996, p<0.001.
↵3-153 Significant differences between 1977 and 1989, p<0.001.
↵3-154 Significant differences between 1977 and 1996, p<0.001.
↵3-160 Significant differences between 1989 and 1996, p<0.001.
↵3-164 Ounces of cooked lean meat equivalents from beef, pork, veal, lamb, game; frankfurters, sausages, and luncheon meats; poultry; and fish and shellfish.
↵3-161 One egg is equivalent to one ounce of cooked lean meat. Includes eggs and egg substitutes.
↵3-162 One third cup of nuts and one fourth cup of seeds is equivalent to one ounce of cooked lean meat.