Proteins in every meal, no sugar: New dietary guidelines for Americans give nod to meat, full-fat dairy

Health secretary RFK Jr Wedenesday announced new dietary guidelines for Americans, calling a war on staple processed food and sugary drinks. The guideline also introduced a new inverted pyramid with meats and vegetables at the top occupying the widest part while grains come at the bottom. “We are ending the war on saturated fats,” Kennedy stated, urging Americans to “Eat real food.”

“The new framework centers on protein and healthy fats, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It’s upside down, a lot of people say. It was actually upside down before,” Kennedy said.


“Avoid highly processed packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies, and candy that have added sugars and sodium (salt),” the guidelines said calling out certain highly processed foods for the first time. “Instead, prioritize nutrient-dense foods and home-prepared meals. When dining out, choose nutrient-dense options.”

1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram per day

The dietary guidelines ended the protein debate and recommended 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The previously recommended amount was 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The guidelines recommend 3 servings of vegetables per day and 2 servings of fruits per day. Whole grains are also encouraged, and 2-4 servings are recommended per day.

No amount of added sugar allowed

Previous federal guidelines recommended limiting added sugars to less than 10% of daily calories. That's about 12 teaspoons a day in a 2,000-calorie daily diet. The new guideline says no amount of sugar should be considered part of a healthy diet.

No alcohol

The previous recommendation was to limit alcohol to one dronk or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men. The new guideline removed this limit and advised to consume less alcohol for better health.