LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday new dietary guidelines for Americans that prioritize whole foods, protein and healthy fats.
Under the new recommendations, the traditional food pyramid has been flipped. Protein, fats and vegetables now make up the majority of the recommended diet, while grains, breads and pastas — which once accounted for most daily servings — play a smaller role. Most Americans do not read or closely follow dietary guidelines, but the recommendations influence what is served in schools and what is included in federal assistance programs such as the Women, Infants and Children program, known as WIC.
“Ultimately, whenever dietary guidelines change, it impacts what information we provide to individuals, and then what's included in schools, school lunches, what's going to be emphasized as being more important, what's going to be in the benefits package if you go to WIC. We may see a change in what's going to be recommended moving forward. Just don't know how long it's going to take for that change to go down, but we do, as recipients of federal funds, and the guidelines being federal guidelines, we would do anticipate seeing some changes in what the benefits would be out to the community,” said Brandon Fischer, health commissioner, Allen County Public Health.
The changes may take time to implement, but families could eventually see shifts in school meals and federal assistance programs.
