Eat more beans, lentils, and peas, but cut back on red and processed meats—these are the recommendations made by an advisory committee for the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide national nutrition recommendations, are set to be updated next year. The Scientific Report released by an advisory committee on Dec. 10 will inform many of the changes in the dietary guidelines for 2025-2030.

In the current guidelines, beans, peas, and lentils are listed in both the vegetable and protein categories. One of the biggest proposed changes is to remove these from the vegetable category and list them as prioritized proteins instead.

“The protein section has pretty much always said lean meat, then chicken, fish, eggs, beans, peas, and lentils. And we said, no, it really should be beans, peas, and lentils first,” said Christopher Gardner, PhD, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University and a member of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

The current Dietary Guidelines emphasize the importance of following a healthy dietary pattern instead of focusing on individual foods. This approach encourages a more holistic and sustainable way of eating that aligns with long-term health goals.

To make dietary patterns more adaptable to individual preferences and cultural diversity, the committee proposed using a flexible framework called “Eat Healthy Your Way.” This maintains the core principles of a healthy diet, such as emphasizing vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. However, it also allows for customization to accommodate individual tastes, cultural traditions, and dietary restrictions, ensuring that these guidelines are practical and inclusive for a wide range of lifestyles.

What About Ultra-Processed Foods?

The advisory committee considered the relationship between ultra-processed foods and growth, body composition, and obesity risk, but did not include recommendations on ultra-processed foods in the Scientific Report.

While the committee expressed concern about the “growing body of evidence” linking ultra-processed foods to health issues, the limited number of randomized controlled trials meant there “just weren’t enough studies” to make a strong, scientifically-backed statement in the report, Gardner said.

However, Robert J. Kennedy, Jr., the nominee for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a vocal advocate against ultra-processed foods. If Kennedy’s nomination is confirmed, he could try to include recommendations about ultra-processed foods in the final guidelines.

“The incoming secretary had said one of the issues that he most wants to address in the Dietary Guidelines is ultra-processed food,” said Jerold Mande, MPH, an adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and CEO of Nourish Science.

“The Dietary Guidelines will be written primarily by the Secretary of Health in following the tradition and schedule that was put in place,” Mande added.

Will the Dietary Guidelines Include These Recommendations?

Since 1980, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and HHS have jointly released updated guidelines every five years. These guidelines are used to shape nutrition advice, policies, and federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and school lunch programs. They also influence food packaging, including which products can be labeled as “healthy.”

The HHS and USDA take turns leading this process. The HHS is in charge this time, and the department will write the guidelines with input from the Scientific Report, federal agencies, scientists, and public comments.

Gardner explained that the HHS and USDA don’t have to adhere to advice from the Scientific Report. “It’s an advisory report. As soon as it’s handed over, they usually do accept some things and reject other things,” he said.

The HHS and USDA have opened a written public comment period and will hold a public meeting on Jan. 16, 2025, where interested parties can provide oral comments. If you’re interested in submitting a comment for the guidelines, you can find more information here.