The most recent federal nutrition advice from the Trump administration suggests that Americans should increase their intake of whole foods and protein while reducing highly processed foods and added sugar. The 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, provide updated recommendations for a healthy diet and serve as the basis for federal nutrition programs and policies. Emphasizing the importance of consuming fresh vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products, the guidelines also advocate for limiting intake of “highly processed” foods and refined carbohydrates to promote better health outcomes.
Unlike previous signals indicating a shift towards increased consumption of animal fats, the new guidance maintains the advice to limit saturated fats but suggests choosing whole-food sources such as meat, whole-fat dairy, or avocados. It advises Americans to keep saturated fat intake to no more than 10% of daily calories, with options including butter or beef tallow, departing from previous recommendations to avoid these fats.
The dietary guidelines, mandated to be updated every five years, serve as a blueprint for a healthy diet in a nation where over half of adults suffer from diet-related chronic diseases, despite low adherence to the recommendations. Renowned nutrition experts have lauded the new recommendations, noting the positive shift towards whole foods and reduced highly processed carbohydrates as a significant advancement in promoting health and well-being. The guidelines are expected to have a significant impact on the National School Lunch Program, which feeds nearly 30 million U.S. children on a regular school day and is required to align its offerings with the guidelines.
