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6h ago

New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Pivot to ‘Real Foods’ and More Protein, Prompting Calls for Clearer Advice

Dietitians call for clearer messaging on protein quality, saturated fat.

Eating foods that you can identify in their natural form is healthier than foods that have been processed. 
Emmanuel Castillo adds ribs to the smoker at Cedar Creek High School's Meat the Creek team booth at the High School BBQ Inc. State Championship at Dell Diamond last year. More protein, including meat, is encouraged in the new food pyramid. 
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The Trump administration has unveiled a new food pyramid, which stresses protein and whole foods and calls for an end to "the war on saturated fat." Image courtesy of USDA

Overview

  • Federal agencies released 2025–2030 guidance with an inverted pyramid that elevates protein, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats while moving grains lower.
  • The plan recommends roughly 1.2–1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight and protein at each meal, which some experts question given typical U.S. intake.
  • Visual prominence of red meat and full‑fat animal foods clashes with written advice to keep saturated fat to 10% of calories, prompting concerns about mixed messages.
  • The guidelines stress minimizing ultra‑processed foods and set limits such as less than 10 grams of added sugar per meal and about 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily.
  • Local reporting highlights affordability worries as shoppers say higher protein and whole‑food choices strain budgets, with implementation expected across school meals and SNAP.