Decoding the New FDA Food Pyramid.
Is the new Food and Drug Administration nutrition pyramid causing you to eat less? Are you confused about what you should consume to have a healthy appetite and to live well? If so, thank goodness that God gives us food and drink.
Dietary Food Pyramid Flip Flop
The release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has occurred every five years since 1980. Primarily, the purpose of these guidelines was developed so Americans would reduce their dietary consumption of fat and animal products. These include for example, meat, dairy, and eggs. Additionally, this program encouraged the increased consumption of carbohydrates and plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains. So what changed? On January 7, 2026, the 2025-2030 DGA guidelines were unveiled, and they differed drastically by encouraging an increase in the consumption of meat and dairy, with prioritization in increasing various proteins.
The Old Food Pyramid
Pictured in the old food pyramid’s foundation groups were your whole grains, bread, pasta, rice. Above this was the fruit and vegetable group. Cheese, milk, yogurt, eggs, a dash of seeds, beans, poultry, fish, and meat were introduced. At the very tippy-top was fats, oils, and sweets. These last three food products were to be consumed sparingly. So how did this differ from the new food pyramid?
The New Food Pyramid
With the new food pyramid, the base of whole grains (breads, pastas, rice) is small, and other food groups are layered above, resembling a loaded pizza with lots of oil and cheese, plus a fruit for dessert. Looking at the pyramid, it is now a toy spinning-top of confusion ready to topple over. In my personal opinion, the flip-flopping of the pyramid did not improve our ability to make smarter food choices.
Where to Start
By prioritizing whole foods and mindful practices, you consequently obtain the nutrition necessary for your body, mind, and spirit.
“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed: to you it shall be for food.’” (Genesis 1:29 [NKJV]).
Nutrition to Fuel the Body
In many instances, we are not getting enough nutrition to fuel our bodies. With the flip-flopping of what’s good or bad and how much to consume and refrain from, we are often left guessing what to eat. Those of us over 50, like myself, our appetite starts to wane. This decline in nutrition often contributes to more problems like losing weight, reduction in muscle mass, loss of energy, and an increase in the risk of disease. So where do we start? How can one best choose foods packed with nutrients to energize the body?
Add protein
A standard-size serving of protein like fish, chicken, steak, eggs, or Greek yogurt will provide a great portion of the necessary amount recommended by the USDA and nutrition experts. The goal is to strive to consume 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal. Likewise, whole grains, beans, and legumes will also help to boost your daily protein intake.
Note: I purposely left out protein powders, bars, and shakes because many (not all) of these contain artificial products created by man. The “He” in the subject line doesn’t refer to mankind.
Vegetables and Fruits
Meat is not your thing? Try eating high protein non-animal foods like tofu, edamame, tempeh, mushrooms, potatoes, brussels sprouts, peas, spinach, and kale, to name a few. Eat two different types of fruit each day. Here are 3 examples:
1. Monday: Strawberries and blueberries
2. Tuesday: Cherries and Raspberries
3. Wednesday: Orange and apple
It’s good to see the USDA has included several of the foods God commanded the children of Israel to eat to the full. Those 7 sacred foods were:
Wheat (land)
Barley (land)
Grapes (vines)
Figs (tree)
Pomegranates (tree)
Olive (oil)
Dates (honey)
Healthy and nutritious foods help our brains to think with greater wisdom and clarity. It is fuel for the soul.
“For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (Psalm 107:9 [NKJV]).
Mind and Soul
Here I’d like to share with you a snippet from Chapter 15 in my book: “What’s in My Book: Ascending from Everlasting Destruction to Eternal Life.” The title, “Hungry for God!” is my personal experience of how important it is to connect with God so our heavenly mind and soul can be fed by Him.
Hungry for God!
“After receiving this immediate revelation, I diverted my eyes back down to my hands and how I was holding God’s word like a plate. I realized the Sous Chef (Holy Spirit) wanted me to feed on the scriptures referencing being “hungry”. Obediently, I flipped to the back of my Bible and searched through the concordance menu for the holy food I needed for this day. Viewing the scriptures listed, I recognized one biblical appetizer served up regularly to every hungry soul with an appetite for God. Then Jesus said, “for I was hungry, and you gave Me food, I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in” (Matthew 25:35 [NKJV]).
What does all this mean? Allow the Holy Bible to be your plate, hold it in both your hands, and from it feed your mind, body, and soul with the healthy spiritual food that’s in it. For, unlike the traditional breakfast of coffee, bacon, eggs, toast, jelly, grits, ham, sausage, biscuits, and rice (non-meat or pork eaters “judge not” and don’t hold this against me), the word of God will neither wear you down nor make you sluggish first thing in the morning before starting your day.
Concluding on a more serious note, I ask again. Are you hungry for God? What is your appetite for Him? If you’re still on the fence, let me encourage you to give your life to Jesus Christ. Repent and stay hungry for God starting right now, especially during these fast-approaching times of sorrow and famine. It’s a blessing to be hungry and not rude to devour the Holy Book. For it is from the tree of life. John, the author of the last book of the Holy Bible – The Revelation of Jesus Christ – wrote these words concerning those who come out of the great tribulation:
“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore…” (Revelation 7:16 [NKJV]).
Water
What do you consume first thing in the morning to quench your body’s overnight hydration? Are you a coffee drinker? Do you have water next to your bed so as soon as you rise, 16 ounces are already down the hatch? Are you saying, “it’s neither?” and go straight for the fruit juices.
In 2019, I participated in a health and wellness program with DiscoverPro. The overall goal was to help me achieve optimal weight loss through healthy habits. How I was breathing, what I was eating, and most importantly, how much water my body needed to function properly were crucial.
As reported by DiscoverPro, water is fundamental for many bodily functions and is a component of every cell, tissue, and organ. Maintaining a healthy total body water percentage will ensure the body functions efficiently and will reduce the risk of developing associated health problems.
Why Water is Important
Did you know that water is the second most vital nutrient for the body, after oxygen? Today, water advertisements claiming to be pure, alkaline, straight from a mountain source, full of extra electrolytes and healthy minerals bombard us. Just like the Earth, our bodies must consume enough water to function at the highest level. Nutrient-filled water helps balance pH.
Prevent Dehydration
Dehydration can lead to a critical situation. Yes, some people choose to partake in water fasting for health and healing reasons. Nevertheless, the human body is unable to survive without water. Chronic dehydration can lead to:
High blood pressure
Constipation
Kidney dysfunction
Mental confusion
Dry skin
Admitting not to being a water connoisseur myself, I fully understand how important it is to drink water daily. It energizes and nourishes my body, and I get doctor-approved results in the end. I thank God for His living water.
“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’” (John 4:10 [NKJV]).
In conclusion, we can be clear that in the future the USDA nutrition pyramid will change. Don’t wait for the next five-year results to understand what your body needs to be healthy. You can start today by eating more protein. You choose whether it’s meat or plant. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are in abundance for your picking. Knowing that these solid foods are important and taste good, we also have to be disciplined in our daily water consumption. Let’s raise our water bottles and drink them up! Hopefully, I’ve helped reduce your anxiety and confusion about what you should strive to consume to have a healthy appetite and to live well. Keeping our bodies strong, remember, God gives us food and drink.