The New Food Pyramid: Healthy or Harmful?

Was Live Friday, March 13, 2026 | 11am PST

Guest Speakers

• Dr. Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health Emerita at New York University. Ms. Nestle also served as the senior nutrition policy advisor at HHS
• Dr. Christopher Gardner, professor of medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
• Dr. Sailesh Rao, founder of Climate Healers

Related Coverage

• Steak at the Top – The Politics Behind America’s New Food Guidelines

Event Overview

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, together with the USDA, announced a new food pyramid on Jan. 7 as part of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 

The new food pyramid differs from previous federal nutrition guidance by inverting the traditional hierarchy of foods. Instead of emphasizing grains as the foundation, the new model prioritizes protein, full-fat dairy, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables, while placing whole grains at the bottom. It discourages refined carbohydrates, added sugars, and highly processed foods. It also almost doubles recommended protein intake.

Speakers this week will analyze the new guidelines — with a special focus on school lunch nutrition and traditional ethnic diets. They will also discuss ultra-processed foods and HHS’ stated goal of eliminating harmful additives, particularly in snacks. Speakers will also discuss the environmental impacts of consuming more red meat and factory farming.

Presented by ACoM

Cover Image Credit: Canva Photos