Public Live Draft. 

So this one is hot off the press. The new pyramid is now, the inverted pyramid.

What's old and what is new.

At a glance. See the official document / guidelines here.

• Officially announced January 7th 2026. Ends in 2030.
• Main public directive / masthead / mantra : "The message is simple: Eat Real Food". 
• No Added sugars. Avoid or limit processed foods.
• Protein is now the "priority". But carbohydrates still remains encouraged ("focus" on whole grains, 2-4 servings a day).

New (highlights only)

• Meat, eggs and dairy are now on the menu next to fruits and vegetables.
• Wholegrains? down the bottom (but still reworded to "focus on wholegrain").
• 1.2g to 1.6g protein per kilogram of body weight. "Adjust as needed on your individual caloric requirements".
• On dairy - consume full fat dairy. Specifically - three (3) servings of dairy daily.

Particularly of note is the segment for vegetarian and vegans ~ eggs are now recommended. And under the section "individuals with chronic diseases" - Low Carbohydrate is now recognised as a potentially approved eating plan.

Old

• Saturated fats to be kept low. (Very low in fact)  10% of TDEE recommendation.
• Eat a colourful plate. Fruits and vegetables included.
• Consume variety (including plant based) sources. including pulses, beans and lentils.
• Swap dry cooking methods with stir frying, baking, broil or grill.
• Eat appropriately to your caloric / TDEE needs. "depending on age, sex, height, weight and level of physical activity".
• Processed foods be minimised (old). Keywords: "avoid highly processed".
• Limit alcohol.
• Limit salt intakes (to previous values)

What "They" think.

Very positive all around. On the meat crowd that is.

I'd wager Dr Raymond Peat would be proud (for dairy recommendations). Except ~ the low sugar and  high MUFA & PUFA N3.

Screenshot

The other side however not too happy.

This critique actually caught my attention. Look at the summary point "The DGA should be modified to:". Read point number five (5). The very first sentence.

I ask myself...."Why?" Yes. Exactly. I trust Dr. Ben Lynch far more on his stance and views on folic acid. As well as also - what is implied on my own nutrigenomics report. 

So what do I think?

Having read through the guidelines - I don't think they are "that" radically different from previous narrative. Besides from dairy and meat proteins, it's still relatively high carbohydrate and still questionably very low - protein intake.

Some things worth pointing out, however. Before proceeding keep in mind that this is from a perspective of someone way down under - the other side of the globe.

Firstly, some slight ambiguity that could be a big deal.  On page 4, there is a line that states significantly limiting highly processed foods helps meet the goal of not exceeding 10% fat intake as Saturated Fats.

My reception on this is.... quite confused.

I don't know about you, but when was the last time you see any "processed foods" that actually feature real butter? As in real, actual whole butter as a product listed in the ingredient on left hand side of the list? I haven't seen it.  The only highest concentration I know from observation is synthetically / extracted SFAs - namely palmitic acid and stearic acid. And the only remnants of dairy being used? Just "milk fats", "lactose" and "whey"

The majority of processed foods meanwhile, at least on where I am, consisted of seed oils as the majority of foods. You know - the omega "666" - soy, cottonseed, safflower/sunflower. Far, far more than saturated fats.

In other words, I'd argue there is already so little saturated fats in our "processed" food supply - to say that it helps meeting the above goal, is, from my humble interpretation ~ does little to deter anyone to stop eating processed foods anyhow.

What do I mean by this? People are resistant to change especially if their "guilt-free", Self-Licensing internal-loop gets questioned. They'd likely interpret the above as nothing more than just "it's another day". "I shall keep eating processed foods anyway and anyhow - because my cookies (and what not) - already have so few saturated fats! So no problems there!".

Unfazed, in other words. They'd just keep chucking it in the checkout aisle.

I can "complain" other things. Notably the protein 1.6g / kg requirements limit. To me and that is just me only - that is borderline starvation.....Although if it is assuming that this is in conjunction to standard high carbohydrate narrative, perhaps that is excusable.

I'm just likely to be adding nothing but noise to the fire, at this point.

Hence, in the meantime, I'm sticking with my own way of eating. 

Industry funding.

Then ~ there's funding.

This article paints yet another critique that the guidelines appeared highly suspect, based from questionable fundings received from the beef/cattle and dairy. I am not a scientific writer. But "Hoodwinked"? ~ that, I think is a little off / non-sensical choice of a word.

According to the actual research document -  there were nine (9) authors total, and seven did receive funding from the above industries as mentioned. Jeff Volek, Dr Benjamin Bilek, and also  Christopher Ramsden (for compiling the paper here) are very well known probably to many of us.

I am generally anti or against anything pushed or pulled - from anything "Big" <>. That is, big ~ Institution, Pharma,  Food, epidemiology, and/or mandates in general.  In saying that, I think it's "fair" time for opposing voice/s to be granted to speak, for once against prevalent narrative. That is - high carbohydrate, and relatively low - both proteins and fats.

When it comes to "funding" I am somewhat no longer fazed about it. Hence I remain neutral when it comes to anything to do with "funding" as a point of criticism.

You need to get your point across? You need money to be heard. Pure and simple. After all, money is leverage.

This is one of those few but contentious topic ~ where I do not necessarily blame the car. But nonetheless -  I always question the motives of the driver.

Look at the science.  Agree or disagree - own your own stance.

Conclusion

The masthead easily explain what it should be all about. Eat Real Food. This could not be said any easier, or any shorter. Bold, industrial, sans-serif look. I like it.

But here's what I bet is going to happen. Media will soon pick this up. "Eat this! Not that!" tacky sensationalism will jump on the noise bandwagon, just for the sake of likes, and shares.

Give it time - things will go back to "normal". Perhaps in  another few months. Everyone will just settle down and go back minding their own business.

Hence for what is to come soon ~ might just be something I'd rather keep things quiet to myself.

I encourage everyone likewise to remain scientifically impartial. Even if tides are in your favour.

Live-It-Forward,

AW.