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Following last week’s announcement of updates to the food pyramid, nutrition experts continue to weigh in on how the new recommendations could change Americans’ eating habits.
The new pyramid, announced by HHS officials on January 7, places greater emphasis on red meat—including beef, pork and lamb—and other protein-rich foods. The guidelines advocate for more “real food” consumption while reducing ultraprocessed foods, added sugar and refined carbohydrates.
“These guidelines return us to the basics,” Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said during the announcement. “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.”
Celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels, who recently released her Fox Nation special “Toxic: America’s Food Crisis,” expressed strong support for the updated recommendations in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“The food pyramid has been effectively inverted. This is wonderful. This is long overdue,” Michaels said, noting that the food pyramid guides “hundreds of billions of dollars” of tax money for public school lunches, military food services, and nutrition assistance programs like SNAP.
Michaels explained that previous food pyramid iterations recommended refined grains and sugary cereals while demonizing red meat and saturated fats. “Famously, sugary cereal was considered healthier than things like beef,” she noted.
The nutrition expert clarified that concerns about red meat were primarily related to its saturated fat content. She emphasized that saturated fat is “unquestionably better” than refined vegetable oils, which undergo extraction processes that expose them to unhealthy chemicals.
When describing fats on a health continuum, Michaels placed olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids at the top for their disease-fighting capabilities and benefits for heart and brain health. “Along this continuum, saturated fat is a little further down,” she explained. “And then at the bottom, you have the refined oils.”
Despite the revised guidance on red meat, the new dietary guidelines maintain the previous recommendation that saturated fat should comprise no more than 10% of total daily calories. For someone consuming 2,000 calories per day, this translates to about 200 calories or 22 grams of saturated fat.
“You would be hard-pressed to find any M.D. or any Ph.D. in nutrition science who’s going to warn you away from 200 calories a day of saturated fat,” Michaels said. “And is it better than the refined oils? 100%.”
She cautioned that concerns arise only with excessive saturated fat intake, such as with strict carnivore or keto diets where nearly all calories come from saturated fat sources. For those cases, she recommends medical consultation.
The appropriate level of saturated fat consumption ultimately depends on individual health factors, according to Michaels. “It has to do with your individual lipid profile, and this is something that you can get to the bottom of with your doctor,” she advised, mentioning that genetic tests can calculate calcium scores that indicate whether someone has cholesterol deposits in their arteries.
Michaels supports the pyramid’s increased focus on red meat and other proteins, arguing that Americans have been consuming insufficient amounts. “We were getting way too many refined grains and added sugars and not enough protein,” she explained. “This causes things like sarcopenia, osteopenia and osteoporosis, especially as we age.”
Beyond protein and fat, beef provides essential micronutrients, making it a valuable component of a balanced diet. Michaels emphasized that the most important aspects of the new guidelines are the focus on whole foods and avoiding overeating.
The revised food pyramid represents a significant shift in federal nutrition guidance, potentially influencing institutional food programs nationwide. This change aligns with growing scientific evidence supporting the nutritional benefits of whole foods, including certain animal products, while reducing processed foods and refined carbohydrates.
These updates could have far-reaching implications for public health initiatives, school lunch programs, and food assistance programs, ultimately reshaping how Americans think about nutrition and healthy eating patterns.
“You don’t need to get crazy with fad diets,” Michaels concluded, reinforcing the guidelines’ emphasis on sensible, balanced nutrition centered around whole foods.
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14 Comments
Jillian Michaels’ support for the updated guidelines is notable. As a prominent fitness and nutrition expert, her perspective carries a lot of weight. I’m curious to see how the public responds to these changes.
Yes, Michaels has been outspoken about issues with the food system, so her endorsement carries a lot of credibility. It will be interesting to monitor the ongoing debate around saturated fat and red meat.
The emphasis on “real food” and reducing processed items is encouraging. However, the details around implementation and ensuring accessibility for all Americans will be key to the guidelines’ true impact.
Absolutely. Affordability and availability of whole, nutrient-dense foods needs to be a priority to make these changes meaningful for public health.
While the new guidelines seem to move in a positive direction, I wonder how the food industry will respond and whether we’ll see meaningful changes in what’s available and affordable for average consumers.
That’s a great point. The food industry’s role and incentives will be critical in determining how these guidelines actually translate to people’s daily lives and shopping carts.
It’s interesting to see the food pyramid inverted to focus more on protein, dairy, and healthy fats. I hope this leads to a better understanding of nutrition and what constitutes a truly balanced diet.
Jillian Michaels’ support for the updated guidelines lends a lot of credibility. As a prominent voice in health and fitness, her perspective carries a lot of weight with the public.
Agreed. Michaels’ endorsement could help drive greater awareness and acceptance of the new recommendations among the general public.
Reducing processed foods and emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense options like red meat is a step in the right direction. But the implementation and public acceptance will be key to whether this leads to meaningful health improvements.
While the shift towards whole, nutrient-dense foods is positive, I wonder how the food industry will adapt and whether we’ll see meaningful changes in availability and affordability for consumers.
Interesting to see the new dietary guidelines focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods like red meat, protein, and healthy fats. It will be important to see how this impacts public health and the food industry.
I agree, the shift away from processed foods and towards more natural, minimally processed options seems like a positive step.
Interesting that the guidelines are advocating for more red meat consumption. I’m curious to see how this plays out given the ongoing debates around the health impacts of saturated fat and red meat.