Nutrition experts reveal Healthy US-style dietary pattern – but is it flexible enough?

The recommendation made yesterday will inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and could improve health equity by addressing socioeconomic, racial, ethnic and cultural gaps that hinder access to healthy foods. These guidelines will shape policies affecting everything from school meals to SNAP benefits and could improve inclusivity and nutritional standards.

Creating a consolidated, flexible US-Style Dietary Pattern​

The DGAC explored the flexibility and potential to modify three dietary patterns—the Healthy US-Style Pattern, the Healthy Vegetarian Pattern, and the Mediterranean-Style Pattern.

The committee analyzed how to adapt existing dietary guidelines to various eating preferences, such as cultural and dietary restrictions, while still meeting nutrient goals. The committee’s recommendation is not about eliminating existing patterns but rather consolidating them into a single, inclusive Healthy US-Style dietary pattern that represents the essential components of various healthy eating styles.

Nutritional gaps and health risks​

The committee discussed concerns between dietary recommendations and actual intake patterns, particularly for key food groups like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy. Most Americans, consume fewer of these food groups​ than recommended while overconsuming refined grains, oils and proteins, such as meat, poultry and eggs.

This imbalance poses significant health risks, especially considering the high rates of obesity, which affect 36% of children and 41% of adults in the US, according to the committee’s statistics. Obesity is linked to chronic conditions such as prediabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome, which are prevalent across different age groups.

Additionally, critical life stages like adolescence and pregnancy are marked by nutrient deficiencies, particularly in iron, iodine and folate, which can impact growth, brain development and overall health.

The committee recommended a shift toward nutrient-dense plant-based foods ​and whole grains to avoid losing essential nutrients, such as iron and folate, when moving away from fortified refined grains. They also called for a mandatory folate fortification in whole grains, as initial efforts to increase folate intake among women have proven successful.

Emphasis on plant protein sources​

The committee also discussed modifying the order of protein food subgroups to emphasize plant sources, specifically positioning nuts and soy products first, followed by seafood, and then meat, poultry and eggs. This includes moving beans, peas and lentils into the protein category.

While beans, peas and lentils are consumed globally and play a significant role in plant-based diets, some committee members sought clarification on whether legumes will be integrated into the new protein subgroup classification. The committee highlighted the need to ensure that the proposed modification reflects current dietary patterns while supporting nutrient adequacy and accessibility for diverse populations.

Additionally, consolidating food groups — like increasing legumes while reducing starchy vegetables — highlighted how small adjustments could improve nutrient density and health outcomes. However, the research also emphasized the importance of nutrient bioavailability, which requires further study to ensure dietary patterns are nutritionally sufficient and accessible to diverse populations.

Terminology around ‘plant-based’​

The committee expressed concerns about the term “plant-based”, noting it can imply veganism and potentially overlook the nutritional importance of dairy and other animal sources, particularly for children and adolescents. Suggestions include using terms like "plant-forward" or "plant-sourced foods" to encourage consumption of plants without excluding critical food groups.

The committee will revisit these points for further clarification to ensure that the recommendations accurately reflect the necessary balance of nutrients across different age groups.