Knowing what nutrition guidelines to follow for your children is important, but a recent shift from the MyPlate nutrition model back to a pyramid model — harkening back to a model from 1992 but inverted for some food groups — may give some parents pause.
The Trump administration’s decision to replace the longstanding MyPlate model, which emphasized the consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, plant- and meat-based proteins and dairy, in early 2026 has raised the alarm for some advocacy groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The new model downplays the importance of whole grains and promotes the consumption of full-fat dairy, meat, butter and even beef tallow, leading the group to allege that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins may have been influenced by scientists with ties to the meat and dairy industries when creating the new guidelines.
But pediatricians say the new model is not necessarily unhealthy — though there may be some adjustments to consider. We spoke with Dr. Christina Brown, head of Kaiser Permanente’s pediatric lifestyle medicine program, about her key takeaways from the new dietary model.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Do the new guidelines improve on the MyPlate model in any way?
The fact that foods are displayed visually on the new pyramid can be helpful to people who are visual learners, and the focus on minimally processed foods is really important. A key takeaway from these new guidelines is the importance of un-processing your diet, which we try to teach families. The more you can get your food from somewhere that isn’t a bag or a box made in a factory, the better.
On the other hand, are there any parts of these guidelines that are inaccurate or unhelpful?
This model is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so I always recommend meeting with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet. Dietary guidelines can vary by age, sex and if you have certain medical conditions. In general, we try to encourage more plant-forward diets and less red meat and saturated fats [than the new pyramid].
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans heavily emphasize meat-based proteins and full-fat dairy, a major change from previous guidelines. What effects will this have on people’s health?
It’s tough, because in some cases, lower-fat options can be less healthy for you than full-fat options. Some low-fat yogurt has so much sugar that you’re better off eating full-fat plain yogurt. But many of us still recommend plant-forward diets and keeping your fat consumption balanced. There is no evidence that beef tallow or butter are “healthy” fats like the new guidelines say, and [the USDA] hasn’t provided any sources that support that claim.
What should parents do if they are unsure about these new dietary guidelines?
They should always talk to their child’s pediatrician before making any big changes. Ultimately, these guidelines are a suggestion, not something everyone has to follow. What kind of diet is healthy and nutritious for your child depends on their age, health history and daily routine. I don’t think these guidelines will change things dramatically for most people.
Christina Brown, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente. She leads the pediatric lifestyle medicine program at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States that encourages teens to make sustainable changes in nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management and screen time.
