How do proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids relate to the food pyramid?

The largest group, made up of cereals, has the highest concentration of carbohydrates; the smallest group is made up of lipids; and the group in between has the highest concentration of proteins. All fresh food comes from living things, and all living things have cell membranes, which contain lipids and proteins, as well as nuclei, which contain nucleic acids; however, some cells, such as muscle cells, have high concentrations of proteins in the cytoplasm, which is why they are categorized in the proteins section of the food pyramid. Butter is not a fresh food; rather, it is a collection of milk fat, so it is categorized in the group that contains the highest concentration of lipids. This is an important distinction to make because processed food is typically not as balanced as fresh food, which comes directly from living organisms.

Three essential macromolecules are shown in the food pyramid: proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Proteins are found in foods such as meat, poultry, fish, beans, nuts, and dairy products. Lipids, or fats, are found in oils, butter, nuts, seeds, avocados, and fatty meats. Nucleic acids are not shown in the pyramid directly, but they are related indirectly because the body synthesizes them using building blocks from different food sources, primarily proteins.