The Trump administration released updated federal nutrition advice on Wednesday, urging Americans to consume more whole foods and protein while reducing highly processed foods and added sugar. The 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, provide recommendations for a healthy diet and serve as the basis for federal nutrition programs and policies. Kennedy emphasized the importance of consuming real food during a White House briefing.
The guidelines highlight the importance of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products in a healthy eating plan. They also advise against consuming “highly processed” foods and refined carbohydrates, recommending avoidance of items like chips, cookies, and candy, which fall under the category of ultra-processed foods known for contributing to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.
Despite previous signals suggesting a shift towards increased consumption of animal fats, the new guidance maintains the recommendation to limit saturated fats to no more than 10% of daily calories. It suggests opting for whole-food sources of saturated fat such as meat, whole-fat dairy, avocados, butter, or beef tallow.
The updated dietary guidelines, required to be revised every five years, aim to promote a healthy diet template. While research shows that a majority of adults in the U.S. have diet-related chronic diseases, the adoption of the new recommendations has been praised by nutrition experts for emphasizing whole foods and reducing highly processed carbohydrates.
The simplified 10-page document aims to make the guidelines more accessible and user-friendly. It will have a significant impact on the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 30 million U.S. children on a typical school day, as it follows the guidelines for meal planning.
Overall, the latest dietary guidelines focus on promoting a balanced diet rich in whole foods while limiting the intake of highly processed foods and added sugars, aligning with efforts to improve public health through better nutrition choices.