The Department of Health has issued the 2025-2030 U.S Dietary Guidelines which urge Americans to prioritize whole foods and limit highly processed foods.

In accordance with USA Today, the new dietary guidelines represent one of the most significant overhauls of U.S. nutrition policy in decades, emphasizing real, nutrient-dense foods and reduced consumption of processed products.

“Our message is clear: Eat real food,” said Kennedy at a White House briefing, stressing the administration’s focus on encouraging Americans to choose unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods over packaged items.

The guidelines advise Americans to consume less alcohol for better health, reducing overall intake without a set intake limit.

The guidelines recommend boosting protein intake to about 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. Paraphrased, that means Americans are being told to eat more protein than before at each meal.

“For decades we’ve subsidized sickness by promoting ultra-processed foods. These guidelines begin correcting that mistake,” Kennedy said, emphasizing a return to real nutrition.

A limit on sugars was introduced with no more than 10 grams per meal, intended to reduce diet-related chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

“The old pyramid helped fuel an epidemic of metabolic disease. This new model reflects modern science, not outdated dogma,” Kennedy said.

A new inverted food pyramid prioritizes protein, dairy, and healthy fats. This visual overhaul symbolizes a major shift in dietary emphasis compared with older models like MyPlate.

“This is not a tweak around the edges — it’s a fundamental reset of how we think about food and health in America,” Kennedy said.