Balanced Diet - Dietary Guidelines

The USDA and HHS announced today that they will soon begin taking public comments on the proposed priority topics and supporting scientific questions that will guide the development of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). This is the first time public comment has been sought.

The new DGA will be built around life stages and will, also for the first time, provide guidance for pregnant women and for children from birth to 24 months. The agencies note that “the topics and supporting questions for public comment reflect a continued focus on patterns of what we eat and drink as a whole, on average and over time, not on individual foods or food groups.”

Here are some examples of the proposed topics and scientific questions the public is being asked to comment on:

Infants and toddlers from birth to 24 months (healthy, full-term infants)
Topic Question(s)
Complementary foods and beverages*: Timing of introduction, types, and amounts

*Beverages (cow’s milk, water, 100% fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages, milk alternatives)
  • What is the relationship between complementary feeding and 1) micronutrient status; 2) growth, size, and body composition; 3) developmental milestones; 4) food allergies and other atopic allergic disease; and 5) bone health?
  • What is the relationship between complementary feeding, including foods and beverages, and achieving nutrient and food group recommendations of infants and toddlers?

Children and adolescents, ages 2-18 years old (with data reviewed by age group)
Topic Question(s)
Added sugars
  • What is the relationship between added sugars consumption during childhood and adolescence and achieving nutrient and food group recommendations?
  • How much added sugars can be accommodated in a healthy diet during childhood and adolescence while still meeting food group and nutrient needs?

Adults, ages 19-64 years old (with data reviewed by age group)
Topic Question(s)
Saturated fats What is the relationship between saturated fats consumption (types and amounts) during adulthood and risk of cardiovascular disease?

Pregnancy and lactation
Topic Question(s)
Diet during pregnancy and lactation and risk of food allergy in the infant What is the relationship between maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation and risk of infant allergies and other atopic allergic disease?

Older adults, ages 65 years and older (with data reviewed by age group)
Topic Question(s)
Specific nutritional needs related to older adults What modifications to food and beverage choices promote meeting nutrient needs in older adults with impaired dentition, dry mouth, or other aspects of aging that interfere with food and beverage consumption?

The commenting period opens February 28 and will continue through March 30. Learn more at DietaryGuidelines.gov.

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