After decades of lecturing Americans to fear butter, steak, and anything that tasted good, Washington has apparently checked its cholesterol panic at the door and is targeting the real enemy – processed foods.
In a major reset of federal dietary guidance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced what he called “the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in history” – and added, “We are ending the war on saturated fats.”
According to the Daily Signal [1], the updated food pyramid emphasizes high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while urging Americans to steer clear of highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates.
For the first time, federal guidance explicitly tells people to avoid highly processed packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat foods – especially the salty, sugary kind – along with sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda, fruit drinks, and energy drinks. Translation: the government has finally noticed the gas station diet isn’t working.
Kennedy said in a statement [2], “These Guidelines return us to the basics. American households must prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods – protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains – and dramatically reduce highly processed foods. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”
Introducing: The New Pyramid pic.twitter.com/NR03y6bqos [3]
— HHS (@HHSGov) January 7, 2026 [4]
The changes don’t stop at this food pyramid advice. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says the government will tighten what stores must carry to accept SNAP benefits.
“USDA will finalize our stocking standards, which means that those businesses in America that take the SNAP benefits, what they are required to stock in order to take that benefit,” Rollins said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the updated guidelines will overhaul what’s served in public schools, to U.S. military members, and in Veterans Affairs hospitals – while also reshaping nutrition programs for low-income Americans, including WIC and Head Start.
After decades of pushing low-fat, high-carb advice that coincided with rising obesity and diabetes rates, the Trump administration is telling us that the past advice of the government was not very good.
Steak lovers, eggs for breakfast people, and anyone who never trusted the food pyramid in the first place may now enjoy a rare moment of vindication.