In the current guidelines, beans, peas, and lentils are listed in both the vegetable and protein categories.One of the biggest proposed changes is to remove these from the vegetable category and list them as prioritized proteins instead.

“The protein section has pretty much always said lean meat, then chicken, fish, eggs, beans, peas, and lentils. And we said, no, it really should be beans, peas, and lentils first,” saidChristopher Gardner, PhD, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University and a member of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

The current Dietary Guidelines emphasize the importance of following a healthy dietary pattern instead of focusing on individual foods.This approach encourages a more holistic and sustainable way of eating that aligns with long-term health goals.

To make dietary patterns more adaptable to individual preferences and cultural diversity, the committee proposed using a flexible framework called “Eat Healthy Your Way.”This maintains the core principles of a healthy diet, such as emphasizing vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. However, it also allows for customization to accommodate individual tastes, cultural traditions, and dietary restrictions, ensuring that these guidelines are practical and inclusive for a wide range of lifestyles.

32 High-Protein Snacks That Are Healthy and Portable

What About Ultra-Processed Foods?

The advisory committee considered the relationship betweenultra-processed foodsand growth, body composition, and obesity risk, but did not include recommendations on ultra-processed foods in the Scientific Report.

While the committee expressed concern about the “growing body of evidence” linking ultra-processed foods to health issues, the limited number of randomized controlled trials meant there “just weren’t enough studies” to make a strong, scientifically-backed statement in the report, Gardner said.

However,Robert J. Kennedy, Jr., the nominee for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a vocal advocate against ultra-processed foods. If Kennedy’s nomination is confirmed, he could try to include recommendations about ultra-processed foods in the final guidelines.

“The incoming secretary had said one of the issues that he most wants to address in the Dietary Guidelines is ultra-processed food,” saidJerold Mande, MPH, an adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and CEO of Nourish Science.

These 7 Breakfast Staples Are Ultra-Processed. How Should You Decide Which Ones to Avoid?

Will the Dietary Guidelines Include These Recommendations?

Since 1980, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and HHS have jointly released updated guidelines every five years. These guidelines are used to shape nutrition advice, policies, and federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and school lunch programs. They also influence food packaging, including which products can be labeled as “healthy.”

Gardner explained that the HHS and USDA don’t have to adhere to advice from the Scientific Report. “It’s an advisory report. As soon as it’s handed over, they usually do accept some things and reject other things,” he said.

USDA Recommends 3 Cups of Dairy Per Day. Is It Too Much?

What This Means For YouThe upcoming updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans could bring significant changes to national nutrition recommendations. The advisory committee for the Dietary Guidelines said that Americans should eat more plant-based proteins like beans, peas, and lentils, while reducing red meat and processed meat intake.

What This Means For You

The upcoming updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans could bring significant changes to national nutrition recommendations. The advisory committee for the Dietary Guidelines said that Americans should eat more plant-based proteins like beans, peas, and lentils, while reducing red meat and processed meat intake.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.Scientific report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Part E. Chapter 1: overarching advice to the departments.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Why are beans, peas, and lentils in both the protein foods group and the vegetable group?.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Top 10 things you need to know about the dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Scientific questions.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Purpose of the dietary guidelines.U.S. Department of Agriculture.FNS nutrition programs.Food and Drug Administration.FDA finalizes updated “healthy” nutrient content claim.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.Scientific report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Part E. Chapter 1: overarching advice to the departments.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Why are beans, peas, and lentils in both the protein foods group and the vegetable group?.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Top 10 things you need to know about the dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Scientific questions.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Purpose of the dietary guidelines.U.S. Department of Agriculture.FNS nutrition programs.Food and Drug Administration.FDA finalizes updated “healthy” nutrient content claim.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.Scientific report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Part E. Chapter 1: overarching advice to the departments.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Why are beans, peas, and lentils in both the protein foods group and the vegetable group?.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Top 10 things you need to know about the dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Scientific questions.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Purpose of the dietary guidelines.U.S. Department of Agriculture.FNS nutrition programs.Food and Drug Administration.FDA finalizes updated “healthy” nutrient content claim.

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.Scientific report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Part E. Chapter 1: overarching advice to the departments.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.Why are beans, peas, and lentils in both the protein foods group and the vegetable group?.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Top 10 things you need to know about the dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Scientific questions.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Purpose of the dietary guidelines.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.FNS nutrition programs.

Food and Drug Administration.FDA finalizes updated “healthy” nutrient content claim.

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