01/08/2026
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the newly released U.S. Dietary Guidelines. You can find the overview at realfood.gov, and while food has always been a charged topic, this release is no exception.
Food sits at the intersection of culture, health, access, identity, science, and economics. Everyone brings their own experience to the conversation, so strong opinions are inevitable. But rather than getting pulled into polarized debates, I think it’s worth pausing and noticing what actually unites us.
One thing that stood out immediately was the headline itself:
Eat Real Food.
Foods that still resemble where they came from—earth or sea.
Foods with vibrant, natural color.
Foods with ingredients you recognize without a chemistry degree.
Foods that are prepared, shared, and eaten with intention.
Across cultures, cuisines, and dietary philosophies, this is common ground.
Dietary guidelines are written for populations, not individuals. They are meant to guide public health—not micromanage personal plates or preferences. Nourishment doesn’t come from obsessing over isolated nutrients or chasing perfect macros. It comes from patterns: meals built around whole foods, color diversity, seasonal rhythms, and variety.
Color matters.
Bright greens, deep reds, rich purples, sunny yellows—these visual cues often signal phytonutrients, minerals, and biological complexity that ultra-processed foods simply can’t replicate (though they try!). When meals are colorful and diverse, they’re usually more nourishing by default.
When we prioritize real food, the body often becomes a better guide than any headline. Many debates soften. There’s room for different protein sources, fat preferences, carbohydrate tolerance, life stages, and metabolic individuality—all on the shared foundation of minimally processed, whole foods.
At a time when food conversations feel increasingly divisive, returning to this foundation matters.
âś… Eat real food
âś… Build meals around natural color and variety
âś… Choose foods closer to nature, not factories
âś… Honor context, culture, and rhythm
That’s a starting point most of us can stand on together.
