New Dietary Guidelines Released with Focus on Whole Foods
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly released the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. This latest edition emphasizes a 'real food' approach, promoting whole, nutrient-dense foods and aiming to reset federal nutrition policy.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the guidelines, with Secretary Kennedy stating, 'My message is clear: Eat real food.' The guidelines are intended to provide science-based advice on healthy eating and will serve as the foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies, including school meals and military feeding programs.
Key Recommendations and Shifts in Nutritional Advice
The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines introduce several notable changes and reinforced recommendations:
- Prioritizing Protein: The guidelines call for prioritizing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein at every meal. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for protein has been increased from 0.8 grams per kilogram (g/kg) of bodyweight to 1.2–1.6 g/kg.
- Emphasis on Whole Foods: Americans are encouraged to consume more whole, nutrient-dense foods, including a variety of vegetables and fruits, healthy fats from sources like meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados, and whole grains.
- Full-Fat Dairy: The new guidance supports the consumption of full-fat dairy products without added sugars.
- Limiting Processed Foods and Sugars: A significant focus is placed on sharply reducing refined carbohydrates and limiting highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives. The guidelines explicitly call out the dangers of certain highly processed foods and advise avoiding 'packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet' and 'sugar-sweetened beverages.'
- Healthy Fats: While maintaining the recommendation to limit saturated fat to less than 10 percent of calories, the guidelines emphasize obtaining fats from whole food sources and suggest 'ending the war on saturated fats.'
- Hydration: Choosing water and unsweetened beverages is highlighted for supporting hydration.
- Alcohol Consumption: Limiting alcohol consumption for better overall health is also advised.
New Food Pyramid and Impact
Accompanying the new guidelines is a reimagined, inverted food pyramid, which replaces the previous MyPlate visual guide. This new pyramid places 'Protein, Dairy, and Healthy Fats' at the top, alongside 'Vegetables and Fruits,' with 'Whole Grains' forming the base. This visual aims to reinforce the shift towards a diet rich in protein, healthy fats, and whole, unprocessed foods. The guidelines are expected to influence federal nutrition programs and public health messaging across the United States.
6 Comments
Bermudez
While it's great to see an emphasis on whole, unprocessed foods, the practical implementation for busy families on a budget will be a major hurdle.
Africa
The push for more protein and healthy fats is a positive step, but I worry about the potential impact on plant-based diets and sustainable food systems.
Bermudez
The new inverted pyramid is a clearer visual than MyPlate, but I wonder if it fully accounts for diverse dietary needs and cultural food practices across the US population.
Muchacho
These guidelines are always confusing. People just need common sense, not more rules.
ZmeeLove
Reducing processed foods and sugar is absolutely critical, yet these guidelines don't address the systemic issues of food deserts and targeted marketing to vulnerable communities.
KittyKat
What about affordability? 'Real food' is expensive for low-income families.