New nutritional guidance set to transform school lunches and military meals [View all]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 2:34 PM, Aug 05, 2025


Changes are likely coming to school lunches. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said Monday that new nutritional guidance will be released, driving changes in school lunch programs, as well as food provided in prisons and the military. Kennedy stressed that the guidance will focus on nutrient-dense foods, less sugar, and will be easier to read.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are released every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The last set of guidelines was released in 2020. The document is 164 pages and lays out recommended diets for Americans of various ages and the science behind those recommendations.

In December, nutrition experts released their recommendations for the 2025 update. The new report reiterated much of what we already know: A healthy diet is lower in red and processed meats, as well as sugar-sweetened foods, refined grains and saturated fats.

It also addresses topics like portion sizes and the practice of intermittent fasting. The panel said, "Time-restricted eating, especially when foods are consumed earlier in the day may be linked to improvements in metabolic conditions."

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/food-and-drink/new-nutritional-guidance-set-to-transform-school-lunches-and-military-meals