The Trump administration issued concise dietary guidelines urging Americans to "eat real food," reduce added sugars and cut back on ultra-processed products. Presented by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the guidance emphasizes high-quality protein, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats such as olive oil. The core document is far shorter than the 2020 guidelines and introduces an inverted food pyramid that places meats and vegetables at the top. Officials say following the recommendations may help prevent or slow chronic disease.
New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Urge Americans to "Eat Real Food" and Declare "War on Added Sugar"
Robert F Kennedy Jr speaks at the White House on 7 January 2026.Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The Trump administration on Wednesday published streamlined national dietary guidelines that emphasize whole and minimally processed foods, call for reduced refined carbohydrates, and say the government will "declare war" on added sugars. Officials presented the guidance at a White House briefing as a concise core document accompanied by supplemental research and justification.
What the Guidance Recommends
The recommendations encourage Americans to prioritize high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains while limiting ultra-processed foods, added sugars and excess salt. The guidance also urges greater attention to protein and whole grains and advises reducing refined carbohydrates.
"Today, our government declares war on added sugar," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services. "Highly processed foods loaded with additives, added sugar and excess salt damage health and should be avoided. My message is clear: eat real food."
Format and Visuals
Unlike the nearly 150-page 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the new core guidance is intentionally brief — limited to a few pages — with supporting science and analysis provided in separate supplemental materials. The administration also introduced a new visual framework: an inverted food pyramid that places meats and vegetables at the broadest top section, reversing the classic pyramid to emphasize whole foods over processed options.
Fats, Oils and Chronic Disease
The guidance addresses fat choices, recommending that people "prioritize oils with essential fatty acids, such as olive oil," and noting that other options can include butter or beef tallow. Administration officials tied the dietary priorities to a broader public-health goal, saying that following the recommendations can help prevent or slow the progression of chronic disease — a central message of the administration's "Make America Healthy Again (Maha)" agenda.
Who Presented the Guidance
The new guidance was presented by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, at a White House briefing. Officials framed the update as both a return to simple, actionable nutrition advice and an element of the Maha policy platform.
What readers should know: The document focuses on practical, easy-to-follow priorities — real, minimally processed foods; reduced added sugar and refined carbs; more protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables; and guidance on preferred fats — while shifting detailed scientific evidence into supplemental materials for reference.
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