The Trump administration recently unveiled the latest U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, urging individuals to prioritize whole foods and protein while reducing highly processed foods and added sugars. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the 2025-2030 guidelines, emphasizing the importance of a healthy diet in federal nutrition programs.
Kennedy underscored the significance of consuming real, unprocessed foods during a White House briefing. The guidelines stress the consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products, while cautioning against highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates. These recommendations aim to steer individuals away from energy-dense, ultra-processed products linked to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.
Contrary to earlier signals, the guidelines maintain the advice to limit saturated fats but suggest opting for whole-food sources like meat, whole-fat dairy, or avocados. The guidance advises limiting saturated fat intake to no more than 10% of daily calories and mentions options such as butter or beef tallow.
The dietary guidelines, updated every five years, serve as a blueprint for a healthy diet. Despite this, research shows that a large percentage of Americans do not adhere to these recommendations, leading to high rates of diet-related chronic diseases. The updated recommendations have received praise from nutrition experts for promoting a shift towards whole foods and reducing processed carbohydrates.
The concise 10-page document aims to simplify dietary guidance, reflecting Kennedy’s commitment to creating easily understandable guidelines. The guidelines will significantly impact federal nutrition programs like the National School Lunch Program, which feeds millions of U.S. children daily based on these recommendations.