The Trump administration on Wednesday unveiled a major overhaul of the federal dietary guidelines, urging Americans to eat more protein and whole foods while sharply cutting back on added sugars and ultra‑processed products. The new 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans mark one of the most significant shifts in federal nutrition policy in decades, reshaping the familiar food pyramid and influencing everything from school lunches to military meal plans.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the guidelines at a White House briefing, framing the update as a cornerstone of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

“Our message is clear: Eat real food,” Kennedy said, emphasizing a return to minimally processed ingredients and higher‑quality sources of protein.

A Reversed Food Pyramid
The new guidelines replace the MyPlate model with an inverted food pyramid that elevates protein, full‑fat dairy, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats, while de‑emphasizing grains. Foods such as steak, cheese, whole milk, eggs, beans, and poultry now sit at the top of the recommended structure.

Officials said the redesign aims to simplify nutrition advice and counter rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet‑related chronic diseases.

Key Changes in the 2025–2030 Guidelines
1. Higher Protein Intake
The administration now recommends 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, nearly double the long‑standing standard of 0.8 grams.
This shift reflects a belief that higher protein consumption supports metabolic health and reduces reliance on processed carbohydrates.

2. Full‑Fat Dairy Endorsed
In a reversal of decades of federal advice, the guidelines endorse whole‑fat dairy products, arguing that previous low‑fat recommendations lacked strong scientific grounding.

3. Stronger Warnings on Added Sugar
The guidelines call for sharply limiting added sugars, recommending that no single meal contain more than 10 grams of added sugar and stating that “no amount” is considered part of a healthy diet.

4. Crackdown on Ultra‑Processed Foods
Americans are urged to avoid “packaged, prepared, ready‑to‑eat” foods such as chips, cookies, candy, and sugary beverages—products that make up more than half of U.S. caloric intake and are linked to chronic disease.

5. Alcohol Guidance Simplified
The previous daily limits—two drinks for men, one for women—have been replaced with a broader recommendation to “consume less alcohol for better overall health”.

Mixed Reactions From Experts
Public health organizations praised the tougher stance on sugar and ultra‑processed foods. The American Medical Association welcomed the emphasis on whole foods and reduced sodium and sugar intake.

However, several nutrition experts expressed concern about the increased emphasis on red meat and full‑fat dairy, noting that these foods are high in saturated fat. The American Heart Association warned that the new recommendations could inadvertently push consumers above safe limits for saturated fat and sodium, both linked to cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a former health policy advisor, said some recommendations “make you shake your head,” particularly the encouragement of red meat despite unchanged limits on saturated fat consumption.

Impact on Federal Programs
The guidelines will shape more than 100 federal nutrition programs across 10 agencies, including:

school lunch standards
military dining
veterans’ nutrition programs
federal food assistance rules

While the guidelines do not directly change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), they influence long‑term policy debates around food access and public health spending.

The White House argues that improving dietary habits could help reduce the roughly $600 billion the U.S. spends annually on chronic disease–related healthcare costs.

A Political and Cultural Shift
The Trump administration framed the guidelines as a break from what it describes as decades of influence from food industry interests. Kennedy said the new approach reflects “common sense, scientific integrity, and accountability” in federal nutrition policy.

Whether the new guidelines will meaningfully change American eating habits remains uncertain—research shows that few Americans follow federal dietary advice even under simpler frameworks. But the administration’s overhaul signals a clear attempt to redefine the nation’s nutritional priorities.