Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) announced an updated food pyramid has just been released by the USDA. 

The old food pyramid first appeared in 1992 and promoted an American diet heavy on carbs with smaller amounts of fat and protein.

The old food guidelines were adopted at a time that 12% of Americans were considered obese.   

Today, approximately 43% of Americans are obese.

Diets high in carbs, sugar and high fructose corn syrup have caused an epidemic of unhealthy Americans over the past 30 years.

RFK’s new food guidelines focus priorities on proven healthy diets.  "As secretary of Health and Human Services, my message is clear: Eat real food," Kennedy said. He called the change “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history.”

Championing protein and healthy fats while minimizing grains, the new nutrition recommendations, announced Jan. 7, are a departure from past government guidance. In fact, the accompanying food pyramid visual is a near complete inverse of what it once was, both visually and in terms of content. (USA Today)

The new guidelines focus on whole foods rather than processed foods that tend to be loaded with sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.  “New guidelines recognize that whole nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower health care costs," Kennedy said.

One big change is the recommendation for whole milk. Children should drink whole milk, not reduced fat milk. Flavored milk often has the beneficial fat removed and a large dose of sugar added.   

Michael Pollan, food and nutrition author, says, “Whole Milk is real food because it's less processed and more satiating.  The more fat you take out of milk, the more sugar and lactose is leftover."  Whole milk is less processed and Americans should eat less processed foods.

Same with yogurt. “Fat Free yogurt” with added sugar or artificial sweeteners has been promoted for years as a health food. Truth is whole milk yogurt with live probiotics and real berries as a sweetener is a much healthier alternative.

If parents and schools adopt the new federal guidelines, then our next generation could once again be fit and healthy. More unprocessed whole foods. More Protein and Healthy Fats. Less Sugar. Less High Fructose Corn Syrup. Less Artificial Dyes and Less Artificial Sweeteners. 

Make America Healthy Again