“We Cannot Treat Our Way Out of This Crisis—We Have to Prevent It, and That Starts with Changing How We Approach Food, Nutrition and Health in This Country.”
Updated Guidelines Deliver Common-sense Nutrition Guidance for Families, Children and Future Generations
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement applauding the Trump Administration’s release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, marking the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades. Buchanan attended the Department of Health and Human Services’ nutrition policy celebration recognizing the release of the updated guidelines.
“The United States spends nearly $5 trillion a year on health care, yet Americans’ health outcomes continue to worsen,” said Buchanan. “Nearly 90 percent of that spending goes toward fighting chronic disease, much of it driven by poor diet and lifestyle, while nearly 20 percent of children and more than 40 percent of adults struggle with obesity. We cannot treat our way out of this crisis—we have to prevent it, and that starts with changing how we approach food, nutrition and health in this country. These new guidelines put real food back at the center of health and empower Americans to be the CEO of their own health.”
The updated Dietary Guidelines emphasize simple, flexible guidance rooted in modern nutrition science, including:
- Prioritizing protein at every meal
- Consuming full-fat dairy with no added sugars
- Eating vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole forms
- Incorporating healthy fats from whole foods such as meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados
- Focusing on whole grains while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates
- Limiting highly processed foods, added sugars and artificial additives
- Eating the right amount based on age, sex, size and activity level
- Choosing water and unsweetened beverages for hydration
- Limiting alcohol consumption for better overall health
The guidelines also provide tailored recommendations for infants and children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, older adults, individuals with chronic disease and vegetarians and vegans, ensuring nutritional adequacy across every stage of life.
For more information, visit RealFood.gov.
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