The U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). The DGAC report emphasizes the importance of increasing plant-based protein consumption, such as beans, lentils, peas, seeds, and nuts. The DGAC also recommends restructuring the protein food group. Beans, peas, and lentils, previously classified as part of the vegetable group, are moving into the protein food group to better reflect their nutritional role. 'This new order prioritizes plant-based proteins, reflecting their health advantages and promoting more sustainable food choices,' says DGAC member Dr. Cody Stanford. 'These nutrient-dense foods are rich in essential macronutrients and micronutrients and are associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases'.
MEGAN MEYER: The U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC)… One of the central findings of the DGAC report emphasizes the importance of increasing plant-based protein consumption, such as beans, lentils, peas, seeds, and nuts. These nutrient-dense foods are rich in essential macronutrients and micronutrients and are associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases.
“The report recommends reducing red and processed meat intake while increasing consumption of beans, peas, lentils, and other plant-based protein sources due to their health benefits,” explains DGAC member Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Another reason for this shift is the role of plant-based proteins in increasing fiber intake. According to Kris Sollid, RD, senior director of research and consumer insights at the International Food Information Council, more beans, peas, and lentils are being emphasized because they “are protein sources that also provide dietary fiber, a nutrient that Americans do not consume enough of.” Since 95% of American adults do not get enough fiber, incorporating more plant-based proteins may help close this dietary gap.
Building on the emphasis on plant-based proteins, the DGAC also recommends restructuring the protein food group. Beans, peas, and lentils were previously classified as part of the vegetable group, but the committee now suggests moving them into the protein food group to better reflect their nutritional role.
“This new order prioritizes plant-based proteins, reflecting their health advantages and promoting more sustainable food choices,” says Dr. Cody Stanford. Additionally, DGAC member Heather A. Eicher-Miller, PhD, a professor in the Department of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, explains that the committee recommends “that the protein group be reorganized to first emphasize and include beans, peas, and lentils; then nuts, seeds, and soy products; then seafood; and then meat, poultry, and eggs.”
The reordering highlights that these plant-based protein foods should be a significant part of the protein food group. Dr. Eicher-Miller also states that these foods were put “first on the list to try to promote them as a primary part of the protein food group”…
The DGAC report is a vital component in the process the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and HHS will follow to develop the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which serve as the foundation for nutrition programs and policies. The DGAC report is informed by nearly two years of research, analysis, and expert contributions, making it highly influential in shaping national nutrition recommendations. Given its importance, we consulted several experts to gather their insights on the key findings and their implications for future dietary guidelines. SOURCE…
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