NEW (2026) Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Pros, Cons and Dietitian Thoughts

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out and I genuinely can’t believe the food pyramid is back 👀

In this deep-dive episode, I’m joined by my fellow registered dietitians Sam and Hannah for an honest, real-life breakdown of the 2026 guidelines. We go page by page through the new 10-page document (link below), separating what actually changed from what just looks different, and what this all means for real people.

We talk visuals vs reality, protein targets, fiber gaps, dairy confusion, saturated fat messaging, gut health, grains, added sugars, alcohol guidelines, and the disconnect between what’s written and what the graphic is communicating.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the Dietary Guidelines are and why they matter
• Food pyramid vs. MyPlate (and why visuals matter)
• New protein recommendations
• Animal vs. plant protein
• Dairy: full-fat vs. low-fat debate
• Gut health + fermented foods (and what’s missing)
• Fruits & veggies: servings, frozen/canned options, and access
• Healthy fats: omega-3s vs. saturated fat confusion
• Grains, carbs, and why the pyramid sends mixed messages
• Added sugar guidance vs. real-life eating
• Alcohol recommendations (or lack thereof)
• Conflicts of interest worth knowing about
• Summary of pros & cons plus what we’re changing as RD's

Bottom line:
We love the big-picture message: eat more whole foods, more fiber, less added sugar and less ultra-processed food—but execution matters. If guidelines are meant to guide the public, they need to be clear, realistic, affordable, and consistent.

📄 Follow along:
10-page DGA document: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf

Scientific Foundation report: https://cdn.realfood.gov/Scientific%20Report%20Appendices_1.8.26.pdf

👟 Bonus: This episode is 1 hour 20 minutes aka ~6,500–8,000 steps if you listen on a walk.