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A registered dietitian sheds light on the implications of the revised federal dietary guidelines for daily eating habits.
On Wednesday, significant modifications were made to the U.S. dietary guidelines under the Trump administration. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a strong advocate of his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, announced that these new guidelines aim to transform America’s eating habits and improve overall health. During a press briefing at the White House, we sought insights from Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, to explain the seven major updates in the dietary recommendations.
“The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines now prioritize the consumption of whole, minimally processed foods while advising against the intake of highly processed items loaded with additives, sugars, and salt,” explains Collingwood. “This marks a definitive shift towards adopting nutrient-rich eating habits.”
Shift Back to Whole Foods & “Eat Real Food” Messaging
Among the notable changes, there is a recommendation to increase daily protein consumption to approximately 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, compared to the previous baseline. “This highlights the essential role of protein in promoting fullness, supporting muscle preservation, and benefiting overall health,” she elaborates.
Protein Prioritized More Strongly
The new guidance recommends increasing daily protein intake to about 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, up from the previous minimum threshold. “This underscores protein’s role in satiety, muscle maintenance, and overall health,” she says.
Revised Eating Pattern Graphic (Inverted Pyramid)
“Rather than the MyPlate model used in previous decades, the updated guidelines introduce a new visual food model (often described as an inverted food pyramid) that places vegetables, quality proteins, dairy, and healthy fats at the widest part, signaling priority foods with whole grains farther down,” she says.
Reframing Fats Including Full-Fat Dairy and Natural Fats
“Unlike prior editions that focused on low-fat and fat-free choices, the new guidance permits full-fat dairy and non-industrial animal fats (like butter and beef tallow) alongside unsaturated oils like olive oil,” says Collingwood. “Saturated fats are still recommended to remain limited to no more than 10% of daily calories.”
Expanded Stance on Added Sugars
“Added sugars are strongly discouraged, with no amount considered healthy, and guidance suggests limiting added sugars to less than ~10 grams per meal, a stricter practical target than prior percentage-based limits,” says Collingwood.
Alcohol Guidance Changed
The alcohol guidance also changed. “The long-standing advice about specific daily drink limits (one drink for women, two for men) has been removed. Instead, Americans are advised simply to consume less alcohol for better health, a first significant change in alcohol guidance in decades,” Collingwood explains.
More Focus on Reducing Ultra-Processed Foods
There is also a greater focus on reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods. “Though the guideline does not yet provide a formal definition, it clearly discourages consumption of ultra-processed foods and refined carbohydrates, linking them to poor health outcomes. This is a more explicit stance than in past guidelines and signals a broader public-health focus on the quality of the food supply,” Collingwood says.
What This Means for Americans
What does this mean? “These updates collectively push Americans toward eating real, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, proteins, healthy fats, and minimally processed carbohydrates, and away from highly processed snacks, added sugars, and refined products. The guidance also reflects evolving science about nutrient needs across life stages and emphasizes a balanced, sustainable approach rather than reliance on macronutrient percentages alone,” Collingwood says.
