01/08/2026
The new food pyramid has dropped — here are my big takeaways:
Prioritizing protein and “healthy” fats is always a good thing! Protein recs have gone from .8g per kg to 1.2-1.6kg, so if you weigh 150 lbs, you should eat 81-108g protein daily. (I still find that a bit low BUT a big improvement!) ✅
Limiting UPF’s (ultra processed foods), refined carbs, added sugar, and sugar sweetened beverages is a home run, but we still need to make whole, unprocessed foods more available. ✅
Reducing alcohol for “better health” is great advice, but I found it a bit vague. Guidelines are easier for people to follow. 🤔
I found too much emphasis on red meat and dairy. I am okay with some saturated fat (I have no beef with butter), but I recommend cooking with EVOO and avocado oil, not beef tallow. 👎
I like the 5 servings of fruits and veggies (tho TBH I tell people to eat 6-8). I also preferred the My Plate visual where 1/2 the plate is plants — the message is impossible to miss! ⭐️
Revamping school lunch programs will be amazing — to me, feeding our kids healthy meals at school is the biggest priority for the Dept of HSS. It could not get any worse! 😣
Finally, no mention of drinking water, but cutting sugary drinks is a win/win! What are your thoughts?