New food pyramid unveiled for first time in 15 years - here's what has changed

The US is making a major change by introducing a new food table, and you might be shocked at the differences.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed its dietary guidelines yesterday (7 January), which shows people in the States what they should be aiming to eat.

You might remember a pyramid which shows you the grains, vegetables, proteins and lean meats you can include in your meal plan.

But the new one is a little different.

Instead of continuing the same message it has for the last 15 years, the USDA is now telling citizens to prioritise different foods than they’re used to.

Instead of eating a lot of whole grains, and vegetables, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's aim to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ with the new visual.

The food pyramid has changed (Beth Keiser / Contributor / via Getty)

"As Secretary of Health and Human Services, my message is clear: eat real food," Kennedy said, calling it ‘the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history'.

Instead of a pyramid or the portion plate people might be used to, this upside-down triangle shows that you should be eating more protein, dairy and heathy fats, vegetables and fruits, with less grains.

Administration officials say the guidance ‘can help prevent the onset or slow the rate of progression of chronic disease’.

Grains have always been touted as being something to make sure you’re eating enough of, but this time, it is telling people to eat it as the smallest portion on your plate.

It also suggests people start eating 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, instead of the past 0.8g/kg recommendation.

With saturated and healthy fats on the list, the USDA now tells citizens they can eat three servings of full-fat dairy a day, as RFK Jr. said they are ‘ending the war on saturated fats'.

Eating too many saturated fats have been linked to things like heart disease, per the NHS.

The changes were made as part of the new MAHA initiative (USDA)

Instead of cutting down, the USDA now recommends ‘healthy’ and saturated fats at the top of the pyramid, along with protein and dairy.

This marks it as being part of the biggest portion you should be consuming, per the guide.

But it does say saturated fats should be less than 10 percent of your daily calories, and that healthy fats should come from things like avocados.

As for sugar, this has been capped at 10mg per meal. The recommended limit of two alcoholic drinks for men and one for women has also been replaced with advice to 'limit alcoholic beverages'.

“Today, our government declares war on added sugar,” Kennedy said. “Highly processed foods loaded with additives, added sugar and excess salt damage health and should be avoided. As secretary of health and human services, my message is clear: eat real food.”

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