5/20/25: Do the Dietary Guidelines (DGA's) need a Do-Over?; Sponsored FREE 1.0 CPEU; Do You Have a Plastic Spoon in your Brain?
Because EVERYBODY Eats
🤯Think About It!
Would you consider becoming a paid MONTHLY or ANNUAL subscriber? It’s not very expensive!
🙏🏽Support without Subscribing
DYK you can support the work of Build Up Dietitians without subscribing to the newsletter? Scan the “Buy Me a Coffee QR code.
🍽️Do the DGA’s Need a ‘Do Over’?
Currently there are a number of attempts by the current administration to undermine, eliminate, defund and gaslight public health, medicine, nutrition, research, scientists, food safety and science. One target in particular is the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The DGA's are being criticized for being too long, influenced by industry, not strict enough about sugar…with the promise of putting out a simple document sometime this summer that is '4 pages long'. Will it feature raw milk? no seed oils? no sugar? Organic food only? Occasional sips of “raw” sewage filled water as a cleanse? Vitamin and mineral supplement recommendations? Only time will tell!
🔍Here are a few reminders about what the DGA’s are and aren’t:
1. The Food Guide Pyramid hasn't been the visual representation of the Dietary Guidelines since 2011. For several years it has been "My Plate" (image above) so when people lead with criticism of the Food Guide Pyramid -- that should be a red flag 🚩that they don't know what they are talking about.
2. The Dietary Guidelines are intended for "healthy Americans" if you have acute or chronic conditions or illnesses these Guidelines wouldn't necessarily apply to you as the DGA's are meant to be general guidelines. (Note: Dietitians are usually adept and translating the DGA’s to different populations and for individuals with different health conditions. The DGA’s are available in 20 different languages.)
3. Those that claim that the Dietary Guidelines are too long...
-The current "Executive Summary" for the DGA's in use now is already 4 pages long.
-There are guidelines for different age groups (which would seem to beThe current "Executive Summary" for the DGA's in use now is already 4 pages long.
-There are guidelines for different age groups (which would seem to be important) like 'Birth-Age 2', 'Kids & Teens', 'Older Adults' and 'Pregnant & Breastfeeding' - these are PROFESSIONAL resources. You can see different resources at MyPlate.gov
-there are CONSUMER resources e.g. a color PDF that is 3 pages long (4 if you count an end page w/ no information). (see link) Start Simple With MyPlate Today
Various comments on the topic:
-Stephanie Simms Hodges, MS, MPH, RDN “…I would also add the DGA are the basis for many federal nutrition programs which millions of Americans participate in. This requires thorough explanations that can’t be wrapped up in a few pages. The three USDA dietary patterns (which include food groups and servings for various ages and calorie levels) take up a page each - are they going to scrap these patterns that set the basis for things like school meals all to try to stick to an arbitrary page limit?”
-Susan Mayne, PhD- “I was not sure if MAHA leadership understood the difference between the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report and the actual Dietary Guidelines. Either they are badly misinformed or prefer to spread misinformation. Concerning times.”
-Colleen Sloan PA-C, RDN- “…I love MyPlate and think it’s an excellent teaching tool. If only all Americans actually ate 1/2 their plate fruits/veggies.”
-Nick Budden - “Also worth noting -- because so many are quick to say "just look at our public health, these guidelines don't work!" -- less than 10% of Americans consume a diet that fully aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
We don't have a guidelines problem.
We have an *adherence to guidelines* problem.”
Rachel Cheatham, Ph.D. - “The difference between MyPlate, the DGAC, the full scientific report and then the actual DGAs is not a small detail. Not sure if the powers that be appreciate these purposeful distinctions. It's more of a slash and burn blunt-instrument approach, so here we are anticipating some 4 pager to magically do all of the above. Not good and not realistic.”
Ted Kyle of ConscienHealth - U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Dummies Coming in August
#Sponsored FREE 1.0 CPEU
from Pork & Partners: "Communicating with Cultural Competence"
Heart disease impacts millions of Americans each year – with rates highest among Black and Hispanic populations. Expand your knowledge of best practices in counseling patients and clients to support heart health with cultural competency.
Continuing Education for Nutrition Professionals (on demand)
Click HERE for webinar
🗣️Quote of the Day
🎙️🥄🧠Podcast Pick: Microplastics
from Science vs
Is there really a spoon’s worth of microplastics in your brain? How worried should you be about microplastics?