- One of the primary changes to the food pyramid is that protein is now prioritized, and meats are grouped with dairy and healthy fats, essentially combining two food groups into one.
On Jan. 7, the US Department of Agriculture released new dietary guidelines that prioritize “real foods” and essentially flip the long-standing food pyramid on its head. The new guidelines are less of a pyramid and more of a cluster; however, there have been minimal changes in terms of recommended servings and portion sizes for each food group.
BREAKING: The Trump Administration announces the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, putting REAL FOOD back at the center of health. 🇺🇸https://t.co/tkGF01onpm pic.twitter.com/1zTLSKdE7R
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 7, 2026
The new guidelines aim to promote a clear, common-sense message to the American people: “Eat real food.”
“At long last, we are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food,” secretary of agriculture Brook Rollins said in a press release. “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.”
Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the state of North Carolina, contributing $111.1 billion annually to the state’s economy. These changes will clearly impact the industry, particularly in North Carolina, where the top commodities include pork, poultry, and sweet potatoes, among other agricultural products.
“USDA’s recent update to the food pyramid brings a new focus on the consumption of meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables that aligns with current consumer trends we have seen that include the farm-to-table and buy-local food movements and interest in including more protein and less processed foods in daily diets,” Andrea Ashby, spokesperson for the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, told the Carolina Journal. “Ultimately, consumers make the decision whether to follow this guidance or not, but it could increase demand for more farm products and fresh produce, which is beneficial to North Carolina’s farm economy.”
The new dietary guidelines are aimed at targeting America’s national health emergency, as declared by the Trump administration. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 90% of health care spending is going towards chronic disease, which is often linked to diet and lifestyle, and over 70% of adults in the United States are obese or overweight. In 2023, 32.7% of the US adolescent population (ages 12-17) had prediabetes. Additionally, due to chronic diseases linked to diet and weight issues, only two out of five young adults are eligible to serve in the military.
“Since the US released its first food pyramid in 1992, Americans have gotten fatter and sicker,” Jon Sanders, director of the Center for Food, Power and Life at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “While correlation is not the same as causation, this outcome was not envisioned by government experts. After arbitrary and ineffective government health dictates during COVID caused Americans to be less trusting of government health advice, they have increasingly questioned the government’s guidance on what foods they should consume and what they should avoid. And for good reason.”
One of the primary changes to the food pyramid is that protein is now prioritized, and meats are grouped with dairy and healthy fats, essentially combining two food groups into one. The recommended daily serving is 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Vegetables are also placed at the top of the pyramid, with three servings recommended per day. Fruits come next, with a recommended two servings per day. Whole Grains finally come at the bottom of the pyramid, with a recommended 2-4 servings per day. This differs from the previous pyramid, in that breads, cereals, rice, and pasta form the base of the pyramid, with a recommended 6-11 servings per day.
“These Guidelines return us to the basics,” secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said in a press release. “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 guidelines emphasize simple, flexible guidance rooted in modern nutrition science, encouraging individuals to prioritize protein at every meal and consume full-fat dairy without added sugars. Recommendations include eating vegetables and fruits throughout the day, with an emphasis on whole foods, while incorporating healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados. Additionally, the guidelines stress focusing on whole grains while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates, limiting highly processed foods, added sugars, and artificial additives, and choosing appropriate portion sizes based on age, sex, body size, and activity level. Furthermore, drinking water and other unsweetened beverages can support hydration, while limiting alcohol consumption can improve overall health.
“The old advice focused highly on carbohydrates and limited milk, yogurt, cheese, red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts,” concluded Sanders. “The new food pyramid’s elevation of proteins, prioritizing whole foods over highly processed foods, and embracing healthy fats over added sugars and sugary beverages are all welcome changes, in my view.”
