Did you feel the earth move last week? On January 7, 2026, the nutritional world underwent a seismic shift. One that we at Real Meal Revolution have been predicting, fighting for, and living by for over a decade already. Check out how you can get started/get back into it here:
The United States government has officially released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. The key takeaway? They have inverted the Food Pyramid.
For forty-five years, the world was told that grains were the foundation of health and that fat was the enemy. We were told to “eat less, move more.” We were told that butter would kill us.
Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA admitted that approach was wrong. In a historic “reset” of federal policy, they unveiled a new graphic that flips the old geometry on its head.
The New Normal: What Changed?
The new “Inverted Pyramid” isn’t just a tweak; it’s a revolution. Here is what the new US federal policy now recommends, and how it mirrors exactly what the Banting and RMR community has known for years:
- The Foundation is Now Protein and Fat The wide base of the new pyramid – the foods you should prioritise – is no longer bread and pasta. It is now Protein, Healthy Fats, and Vegetables. The guidelines explicitly recommend centering your plate around high-quality protein, raising the target to 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight.
- The War on Saturated Fat is Over In perhaps the biggest vindication for our movement, the guidelines have declared an end to the “war on saturated fats.” The new policy explicitly lists butter and beef tallow as acceptable cooking options, alongside olive oil. They have acknowledged that natural fats are essential for metabolic health and satiety.
- Full-Fat Dairy is Recommended Gone are the days of watery skim milk. The guidelines now recommend 3 servings of full-fat dairy per day, acknowledging that the fat is necessary to absorb vitamins and that low-fat versions are often laden with sugar.
- Grains are the “Limit” The foods that used to be the “base” of the pyramid (i.e. grains) have been demoted to the very tip, the smallest section of the triangle. The advice is clear: sharply reduce refined carbohydrates. Hallelujah!
- The Real Enemy: Ultra-Processed Foods The guidelines introduce a strict stance against “highly processed foods” (HPFs), urging people to avoid anything “packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat” that is salty or sweet. They have moved away from counting calories to focusing on food quality and toxicity.
A Victory for Science (and RMR)
For the Real Meal Revolution community, this is a moment of profound vindication. We remember the “Trial of Tim Noakes,” where Prof. Noakes was prosecuted for suggesting that we should wean infants onto meat and vegetables rather than cereal.
Today, the US government’s official policy for infants and toddlers mirrors that advice almost exactly, prioritising nutrient-dense animal foods and strictly prohibiting added sugars. The science that Noakes, Teicholz, Taubes, and others championed, often at great professional cost, is now the “Gold Standard” of American health policy.
What this means for the US (and the rest of the world)
In practical terms, this change will influence:
- School and hospital meals
- Food labelling and marketing
- Public health messaging
- Food manufacturing and reformulation
Over the next 1 to 3 years, Americans will increasingly see fewer ultra-processed foods positioned as “healthy” and more emphasis on simple, whole ingredients.
Globally, this matters because US dietary guidelines often shape international policy, industry behaviour and nutrition education, whether directly or indirectly.
Which brings us closer to the home of RMR.
While we celebrate this global shift, we must look at our local context with fresh eyes. South Africa’s current Food-Based Dietary Guidelines still contain the mandate: “Make starchy foods part of most meals.”
This guideline, born of the old 1990s paradigm, is driving our local epidemics of obesity and diabetes. If the United States, the country that invented the Food Pyramid, has abandoned the starch-centric model because it causes chronic disease, South Africa can no longer defend it.
The discrepancy is now undeniable:
- USA 2026: “Sharply reduce refined carbohydrates.”
- SA Current: “Make starchy foods part of most meals.”
The Revolution is Now Policy
We don’t need to wait for the South African guidelines to update their text. The evidence is in. The debate is largely over. The most influential health body in the world has effectively adopted the Banting/Keto lifestyle.
For our community, this is fuel for the fire. It’s easier than ever to explain to your friends and family why you eat the way you do. You aren’t following a “fad.” You are eating according to the most up-to-date, science-based nutritional guidelines in the world!
So, spread the word. Pass the butter. And let’s keep the revolution going!
