01/20/2026
Dietary Guidelines-what is important for you to know from my perspective? Snippet below; read the full article for an important overview highlighting a few significant changes.
As with many things, there are many layers. Yes, of course, to ‘eat real food;’ we advocate, educate and encourage this daily with every human and in every sector we work in. However, the remainder of the newly released DGAs, along with the graphic, includes confusion, major missed opportunitues to encourage what most Americans are deficient in, and blatant omission of important recommendations from evidence-based research reviews conducted by 20 nutrition experts over two years (their 421-page comprehensive report was released last July).
Richard states “Without addressing food deserts, time scarcity, cost, marketing practices, and culinary skills, people are left knowing what to do without being supported in how to do it, ” she explained. “Policy, industry accountability, and community-based solutions must accompany the guidance. Guidance must also be led by nutrition experts, not those who have conflict of interest with industry, policy, or personal agendas.”
“My job as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is to meet people where they are, not where an idealized version of themselves or society thinks they ‘should’ be. We are able to translate evidence into daily, doable habits that can change the trajectory of health and enhance quality of life. Changes can be complex when considering the current landscape, pertinent health disparities, and lack of health literacy in specific populations.”
– Monique Richard, MS, RDN,
Nutrition is also much more than the food and nutrients themselves. We must address the multitude of factors that support, or degrade, health and vitality. An integrative and functional RDN is trained to take on the intricacies of this task while supporting the whole person.
Thank you Corrie Pelc and Medical News Today for always writing such important, informational pieces and for including my insight.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4-key-changes-us-dietary-guidelines-prioritize-protein-full-fat-dairy
The new U.S. dietary guidelines call for prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, and avoiding sugars and processed foods. Here's what experts think of these changes.