The Trump Administration has released the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, which emphasize prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and recommend avoiding highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates. Dietary supplements are referenced a few times for specific populations and considerations, such as infants, lactating women, and older adults, to address nutrient gaps.

A reimagined, upside-down food pyramid places protein at the top, along with dairy, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables.

“The message is simple: eat real food.” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the 10-page guidelines with this take-home message.

“To Make America Healthy Again, we must return to the basics,” they said. “American households must prioritize diets built on whole, nutrient-dense foods—protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains. Paired with a dramatic reduction in highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives, this approach can change the health trajectory for so many Americans.”

Quality Protein

“Every meal must prioritize high-quality, nutrient-dense protein from both animal and plant sources, paired with healthy fats from whole foods such as eggs, seafood, meats, full-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados.” The guidelines recommend approximately 0.54-0.73 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day.

Dairy and Gut Health

The guidelines suggest three servings of dairy per day and suggest including full-fat dairy with no added sugars.

The guidance also notes the importance of gut health, stating: “A healthy diet supports a well-balanced microbiome and healthy digestion. Highly processed foods can disrupt this balance, while vegetables, fruits, fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso), and high-fiber foods support a diverse microbiome, which may be beneficial for health.”

Fruits and Vegetables

The guidelines target three servings of vegetables per day and two servings of fruit per day, suggesting Americans eat a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense whole vegetables and fruits in their original form.

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are plentiful in many whole foods, according to the guidelines, including meats, poultry, eggs, omega-3-rich seafood, nuts, seeds, full-fat dairy, olives, and avocados.

In general, saturated fat consumption should not exceed 10% of total daily calories, though. “Significantly limiting highly processed foods will help meet this goal. More high-quality research is needed to determine which types of dietary fats best support long-term health,” the guidelines said.

Whole Grains

The guidelines prioritize fiber-rich whole grains while also suggesting consumers significantly reduce consumption of highly processed, refined carbohydrates, “such as white bread, ready-to-eat or packaged breakfast options, flour tortillas, and crackers.”

Limit Processed Foods, Added Sugars, and Refined Carbohydrates

The guidelines recommend people avoid “highly processed packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat, or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies, and candy that have added sugars and sodium (salt).”

Instead, Americans should prioritize nutrient-dense foods and home-prepared meals.

Supplements

Dietary supplements and fortified foods are mentioned several times in the context of “special populations and considerations,” including a recommendation for 400 IU of vitamin D daily for breastfed infants and some formula-fed babies.

When discussing adolescence (11-18 years), the guidelines state: “When access to nutrient-rich foods is limited, fortified foods or supplements may be needed under medical guidance.”

Similarly, for older populations, the guidance suggests: “When dietary intake or absorption is insufficient, fortified foods or supplements may be needed under medical supervision.”

And for vegetarians and vegans, targeted supplementation may help avoid nutrient gaps.

Industry Reaction

In a statement, the Natural Products Association (NPA) welcomed the guidelines’ emphasis on nutrient-dense diets and improved overall diet quality.

“However, as policymakers and health professionals consider how Americans can realistically meet these recommendations, it is critical to acknowledge a longstanding reality,” NPA noted. “Millions of Americans fail to obtain adequate intake of key vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients solely from food.”

“Dietary supplements play a vital and complementary role in closing these nutrient gaps,” NPA continued, “particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, older adults, children and individuals with chronic health conditions. Supplements are not a substitute for healthy eating, but they are a proven, science-based tool that support public health objectives when dietary intake falls short.”

NPA encouraged policymakers to ensure that dietary supplements are accurately represented as part of a comprehensive nutrition strategy. “This includes recognizing the essentiality of specific nutrients, reflecting modern nutrition science on bioavailability and life-stage needs, and avoiding outdated assumptions that overlook how Americans actually consume nutrients in the real world.”

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) praised HHS and USDA for acknowledging that while nutrient-dense foods should remain the foundation of nutrition guidance, “dietary supplements can serve as a practical and science-based tool to help address persistent nutrient shortfalls across the population.” 

“For many Americans, meeting nutrient recommendations through food alone is challenging — sometimes due to limited food sources, increased nutritional needs during certain life stages, or other real-world barriers,” said Steve Mister, president and CEO of CRN. “By appropriately recognizing dietary supplements as a way to help fill nutrient gaps, the agencies have taken an important step toward improving public health and ensuring the Dietary Guidelines are both evidence-based and practical.” 

Evidence shows  Americans fall short of many key nutrients, including vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber, CRN noted. Supplement use has been shown to help reduce the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy. Consistent with CRN’s public comments, the new guidelines maintain that supplementation should be considered in special populations in consultation with health care professionals. 

“We support the agencies’ goal of improving the health of American families,” Mister added. “Recommendations for the appropriate use of dietary supplements strengthen the Dietary Guidelines and help consumers and healthcare providers make informed decisions. CRN has long urged consumers to have meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers about their supplement regimens, and we are delighted that the new Dietary Guidelines underscore the importance of these conversations.” 

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) commended the Administration’s focus on improving public health through nutrition guidance, stating: “The Dietary Guidelines continue to serve as an important resource for federal nutrition programs, health professionals, and American consumers, providing insight into how dietary practices can support overall health at every stage of life and identifying key nutritional needs and areas where gaps persist.” 

“Consistent with previous editions of the Guidelines, CHPA welcomes the continued recognition that dietary supplements play a complementary role in helping individuals meet nutrient needs when diet alone is insufficient, particularly during key life stages or for vulnerable populations. With approximately 75% of Americans not consuming enough nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, gaps in dietary intake remain a persistent public health challenge. Longstanding public health examples, such as folic acid supplementation for pregnant women or those who may become pregnant, demonstrate how supplementation can support nutrient adequacy when dietary intake falls short.”