Real Food Starts Here: The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Real food lies at the heart of a healthy life. In its most recent update, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans move away from decades of ambiguous guidance and place whole, nutrient‑dense, naturally occurring foods at the center of our plates. This paradigm shift is the first step toward a future where nutrition—rather than medication—serves as the primary tool for disease prevention. State of our health underscores the urgency. Fifty percent of adults live with prediabetes or diabetes, and three‑quarters report at least one chronic condition. Nearly ninety percent of U.S. healthcare spending is directed toward treating chronic disease—a proportion heavily tied to diet and lifestyle choices. For too long the public has been guided by models such as the 1992 Food Pyramid, which unintentionally elevated highly processed foods. That legacy contributes to unprecedented rates of chronic disease and erodes public trust in nutritional science. The new guidelines confront that legacy head‑on. They explicitly identify the dangers of highly processed foods and replace the old pyramid with a new, evidence‑based framework that prioritizes real food. This framework draws on gold‑standard research and common sense, making it both rigorous and practical. Implementation resources are now available. Policy guidance, the everyday serving framework, and research briefs together form a toolkit for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and consumers alike. These materials give clear recommendations on how to translate the guidelines into daily choices and public programs. Now is the moment for all stakeholders—governments, schools, businesses, and families—to rebuild a food culture rooted in health, science, transparency, and personal responsibility. By returning to real food and adhering to the new pyramid, we can reverse the trend toward chronic disease and create a healthier nation.