Introduction to the New Dietary Guidelines
The Trump administration released updated U.S. dietary guidelines, encouraging Americans to eat more protein and full-fat dairy, while cutting back on ultra-processed foods and added sugars. The guidelines, which are updated every five years by the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments, largely align with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, but stop short of the sweeping changes some nutrition experts had expected.
Changes to the Dietary Guidelines
Gone is the MyPlate visual guide for what foods to eat — which recommended filling your plate with roughly equal parts grains, vegetables, protein, and fruit with a small portion of dairy. Instead, an updated version of the food pyramid is back, this time inverted and slightly jumbled. Protein, dairy, and healthy fats, along with vegetables and fruits dominate; whole grains are de-emphasized.
The updated dietary guidelines return to a pyramid shape, this time emphasizing protein, dairy, and healthy fats along with fruits and vegetables. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Emphasis on Protein
The new guidance emphasizes protein at every meal and encourages people to eat as much as twice the recommended daily allowance of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, instead recommending 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight. The guidelines also tout full-fat dairy, a departure from earlier versions that recommended low-fat or fat-free versions to limit saturated fat intake. Kennedy has called the previous guidelines “antiquated” because of those recommendations.
Guidance on Saturated Fat and Other Nutrients
Guidance on saturated fat has not changed. The latest recommendations still cap intake at less than 10% of total daily calories. Kennedy, however, has often highlighted his personal taste for saturated fat. That includes a public stop at a Florida Steak ‘n Shake in March after the chain ditched vegetable oil for beef tallow. In July, he told governors that the updated dietary guidelines would push for what he called “common sense” foods, including more saturated fats and meat.
Reaction from the Medical Community
The American Medical Association applauded the new guidance for spotlighting ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and sodium, which it says fuel chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. ”The Guidelines affirm that food is medicine and offer clear direction patients and physicians can use to improve health,” Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the AMA, said in a statement. Marion Nestle, professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, said the advice to limit highly-processed foods is a major improvement, but “everything else is weaker or has no scientific justification.”
Ultra-processed Foods and Added Sugar
Definition and Recommendations
A White House spokesperson said the new guidance is based on “scientific consensus” and “common sense.” The dietary guidelines shape what’s in school lunches, military meals, and federal food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Child Nutrition Programs. The White House spokesperson said the new guidance will be phased into schools and federal food programs over the next two years. The recommendations call for avoiding ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates. It singles out pre-packaged snacks such as chips, cookies, and candy in favor of “nutrient-dense foods” and home-prepared meals.
Practical Advice
Added sugars should be limited to 10 grams per meal. To help people identify added sugar, the guidance advises checking the ingredient list for terms that include “sugar,” “syrup” or ingredients that end in “-ose.” Fruits and vegetables should be consumed “in their original form,” although frozen, dried, or canned fruits and vegetables can be a good option if they include no or very limited added sugars.
Other Nutrients and Substances
On sodium, the guidelines are unchanged: most people ages 14 and up should consume less than 2,300 milligrams per day. Recommendation limits are lower for children, ranging from less than 1,200 mg per day to 1,800 mg per day. The new guidelines appear to remove specific daily limits on alcohol, which was previously set at no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. Instead, it advises Americans to drink “less alcohol for better overall health.”
Conclusion
The updated dietary guidelines mark a significant shift in the approach to nutrition, emphasizing protein, full-fat dairy, and healthy fats, while limiting ultra-processed foods and added sugars. While some experts praise the changes, others criticize the lack of scientific basis for certain recommendations. As the guidelines are phased into schools and federal food programs, their impact on public health will be closely watched.
FAQs
- Q: What are the main changes in the new dietary guidelines?
A: The guidelines emphasize protein, full-fat dairy, and healthy fats, while cutting back on ultra-processed foods and added sugars. - Q: How much protein should I eat according to the new guidelines?
A: The guidelines recommend 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which is twice the previous recommendation. - Q: What about saturated fat intake?
A: The guidelines still cap saturated fat intake at less than 10% of total daily calories. - Q: How will the new guidelines affect school lunches and federal food programs?
A: The guidelines will be phased into these programs over the next two years, potentially changing the types of foods offered. - Q: What is the recommendation on alcohol consumption?
A: The guidelines advise Americans to drink “less alcohol for better overall health,” without specifying daily limits.
