HHS New Dietary Guidelines Emphasize Protein, Healthy Fats – Discourage Sugar, Processed Foods

The Trump administration rolled out new dietary guidelines that flip the previous food pyramid upside down, emphasizing proteins and whole-fat dairy and removing processed foods from the dietary recommendations. The new pyramid has whole grains at the top, but states that refined grains should be avoided, while oats, rice, and true sourdough are preferred. There is a large section that includes animal protein, red meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.

The old pyramid called for 6-11 servings of whole grains, including cereal, bread, rice, and pasta, as the largest food category. That was replaced by MyPlate in 2011, which called for a variety of whole grains, including whole wheat pasta, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice.

“These Guidelines return us to the basics,” Secretary Kennedy said. “American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods—protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains—and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

The new guidelines take aim at the previous recommendations that allowed for small amounts of added sugar and large amounts of processed grains while limiting protein and avoiding healthy fats. The new guidelines say that no amount of added sugar is recommended or considered part of a healthy or nutritious diet. It also says children under four should avoid added sugar entirely. Previous recommendations under MyPlate called for the reduction of added sugars.

The updated recommendation prioritizes “high-quality nutrient-dense protein foods in every meal,” including animal sources and red meat. The dangers of ultra-processed foods are noted, and people are asked to “avoid highly processed, packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet” and to “avoid sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda, fruit drinks, and energy drinks.”

The guidelines call for an end to the “war on healthy fats,” which include meats, poultry, eggs, omega 3-rich seafood, nuts, seeds, full-fat dairy, olives, and avocados.” They state that these fats are preferred over “omega-6 PIFA linoleic acid” such as soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil.

Previous MyPlate recommendations told people to use “healthy oils” like olive oil and canola oil while avoiding the use of butter, animal fat, milk fat, and coconut oil. The MyPlate recommendations equated these fats with margarine and hydrogenated oils. Canola oil is considered a seed oil, which is found to be inflammatory as it throws off the balance of omega-3 and omega-6.

The updated guidelines have received a mix of support and pushback from the American Heart Association. The AHA applauds HHS for limiting added sugars, refined grains, and ultra-processed foods, but disagrees with the updated recommendations on saturated fats, including red meat and whole-fat dairy. The HighWire has reported on the history of the science that was funded by the Sugar Research Foundation to downplay the harms of sugar while emphasizing the dangers of saturated fats.

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) has also emphasized that nutritional guidelines should not remove ultra-processed foods because school lunch programs rely heavily upon UPFs under the current level of funding. Schools are the only part of society that is required to follow national nutritional standards, so the latest changes will require updates to school lunch programs.

The SNA partners with General Mills and Sara Lee, two companies that produce large amounts of UPFs that are available in school lunch programs. It also provides resources in partnership with brands like Pepsi and Kraft. It references an event stating, “We will be showcasing the full portfolio of Frito-Lay, Quaker, and Sabra products that are Smart Snack compliant and offering several new recipe ideas that will add some crunch to lunch.” The SNA doesn’t say that UPFs need to be a part of the school lunch program, but focuses on the need for higher budgets so that school lunch programs can reduce their reliance on UPFs.

The updated guidelines may also have future impacts on the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). As part of the Make America Healthy Again Movement, Secretary Kennedy has encouraged states to apply for waivers to remove sugary beverages and desserts from SNAP eligibility. So far, 18 states have applied for waivers through the USDA and received approval for removing certain sugary items from eligibility.

“Thanks to the bold leadership of President Trump, this edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will reset federal nutrition policy, putting our families and children first as we move towards a healthier nation,” Secretary Rollins said. “At long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food. Farmers and ranchers are at the forefront of the solution, and that means more protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains on American dinner tables.”

The new guidelines are simplified, emphasizing eating “real food,” defined as whole or minimally processed. The document recommends foods that don’t contain added sugars, industrial oils, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

“While the Biden administration said health equity was the “central prism” of their nutrition review, President Trump instructed the U.S. to make the health of all Americans the primary goal,”  the HHS press release said. “The purpose of our Dietary Guidelines is to make recommendations on optimal nutrition to educate Americans and impact federal procurement programs. When DEI impacts nutrition science, it enables special interests to argue that the status quo is acceptable because it would violate “health equity” principles to encourage Americans to eat healthier food. We reject this logic: a common-sense, science-driven document is essential to begin a conversation about how our culture and food procurement programs must change to enable Americans to access affordable, healthy, real food. The Trump administration welcomes all stakeholders to be part of this conversation in the coming year.”