US Food Pyramid: New Dietary Guidelines Introduced by RFK Jr., What Are They?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - On January 7, 2026, the United States officially launched the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030, a monumental step that marked a paradigm shift in federal nutrition policy.

The launch of the guidelines was led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), along with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

The new guidelines introduced the concept of an upside-down food pyramid, aiming to restore focus to whole, nutrient-dense foods.

This change comes amid a national U.S. health crisis, with nearly 90% of healthcare spending allocated to treating chronic diseases largely related to diet and lifestyle.

More than 70% of American adults are overweight or obese, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive nutrition reform.

The guidelines, called the guidelines “the most significant reset in federal nutrition policy in history,” by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., move away from the previous MyPlate model and reverse the classic depiction of the food pyramid.

The goal was to 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA), an agenda led by Kennedy to promote better health and reduce health care costs through better diets.

Today's NEW Dietary Guidelines deliver a clear, common-sense message to the American people: EAT REAL FOOD.The 2025–2030 Guidelines reestablish food — not pharmaceuticals — as the foundation of health and reclaim the food pyramid as a tool for nourishment and education. pic.twitter.com/1HKJjCpMPp

— HHS (@HHSGov) January 7, 2026

The core message of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines is a simple yet powerful call: "Eat real food."

Kennedy asserts that these guidelines restore the focus to the fundamentals of nutrition, emphasizing that whole, nutrient-dense foods are the most effective pathway to better health and lower healthcare costs.

This philosophy mirrors elements of Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda, which aims to address the national health crisis.

This paradigm shift represents "the most significant reset in federal nutrition policy in history," according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

It marks a clear departure from the previous MyPlate model and reverses the classic depiction of the food pyramid, which often places grains at the base.

These new guidelines provide clear and flexible guidance, rooted in modern nutritional science, to help Americans make healthier food choices.

These recommendations cover a wide range of important food categories.

• Protein: Prioritize protein at every meal, with a recommended intake of 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight daily, a significant increase from previous recommendations. Recommended sources include eggs, poultry, seafood, red meat, and plant-based proteins such as nuts, seeds, and legumes, served with little or no added sugar or refined carbohydrates.
• Dairy: Consume three servings of dairy products daily, with a priority on full-fat dairy options without added sugar, in contrast to previous guidelines that recommended low-fat or fat-free options.
• Healthy Fats: These guidelines call for "ending the war on healthy fats" and recommend getting most dietary fat from whole food sources such as meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, nuts, full-fat dairy products, and avocados. Cooking with olive oil, butter, or beef tallow is recommended, with saturated fat intake remaining at 10% of total daily calories.
• Vegetables and Fruits: Consume at least three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day, focusing on whole forms, including frozen, dried, or canned products with little or no added sugar. Limit consumption to 100% fruit or vegetable juice.
• Whole Grains: Prioritize fiber-rich whole grains and reduce consumption of highly processed, refined carbohydrates.
• Added Sugars and Processed Foods: These guidelines "declare war on sugar" and recommend "no amount of added sugar," especially for children, with a maximum of 10 grams of added sugar per serving. Avoid foods and beverages containing artificial flavors, colors, low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners, and artificial preservatives. For the first time, these guidelines explicitly call for avoiding "highly processed foods," which have been linked to an increased risk of 32 adverse health outcomes.
• Hydration: Choose water and unsweetened beverages to support hydration, and limit alcohol consumption for overall health.
• Gut Health: These new guidelines highlight the importance of gut and microbiome health, recommending consumption of vegetables, fruits, fermented foods, and high-fiber foods to support a diverse gut microbiome.

These new dietary guidelines introduce a food pyramid described as "inverted" or "upside-down" compared to the widely recognized traditional food pyramid.

The top of the pyramid, which is the largest, now prioritizes protein, dairy, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits macronutrients and micronutrients as the foundation of a healthy diet.

Conversely, the bottom of the pyramid, which is the smallest, now consists of whole grains.

This change indicates a reduction in emphasis on grains as a major dietary component, particularly refined carbohydrates.