Health Secretary reveals new food pyramid guidelines

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced new dietary guidelines, unveiling a new food pyramid.

The new guidelines focus on promoting whole foods, proteins, and healthy fats. The new food pyramid has red meat, cheese, vegetables, and fruits at the top.

The new nutrition recommendations, announced on January 7, 2026, are a shift from previous guidelines.

Stephanie Espinoza, MA, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the new guidelines.

“It hasn’t changed too much from what the last ones were,” Espinoza said, “they’ve added more meat…and really encouraged people to do whole…fat, dairy…which increases the saturated fat content of people’s diets. The American Heart Association actually recommends less than 6%, but by encouraging people to have three servings of whole milk a day…it doesn’t add up to the research. “

According to Espinoza, research shows that high intake of saturated fat in one’s diet leads to an increase in bad cholesterol and could potentially lead to heart disease. Heart disease is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

“Heart disease is something that starts very early in our life,” Espinoza said, “…and so if we’re pushing whole fat, dairy, and more protein onto the plates of our kids without caution, then what is that gonna look like down the road for them.”

On average, most Americans, depending on one’s size, need roughly 2000 calories per day, which means, according to the guidelines, ten percent of saturated fat would be around 20-22 grams.

“We already eat about…over 12% of our intake calories from saturated fat,” Espinoza explained, “…so this isn’t gonna help us to cut back to where we should be.”

Espinoza emphasized that, in general, people don’t need to restrict fruit, as it is full of nutrients and fiber. They also shouldn’t restrict whole grains as they contain lots of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

“I don’t think we need to be cutting back like they’re recommending,” Espinoza said.