What is the purpose of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans?

January 4, 2026 •

3 min read

Published jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) every five years, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) serves to inform federal nutrition programs and help Americans make healthier choices. The guidelines are a cornerstone of national nutrition policy.

Quick Summary

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides evidence-based advice for policymakers, educators, and health professionals to inform policy and promote health, meet nutrient needs, and prevent chronic diseases across all life stages.

Key Points

Informs Policy: The DGA provides the scientific basis for federal food, nutrition, and health policies and programs, including SNAP and WIC.
Promotes Health and Prevents Disease: Its core purpose is to guide Americans toward dietary patterns that promote health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Targets Professionals: The official document is for policymakers and health professionals, who then use it to educate the public through tools like MyPlate.
Covers the Full Lifespan: Recent editions, including the 2020-2025 version, provide guidance for every life stage, from infancy through older adulthood.
Emphasizes Eating Patterns: The guidelines focus on the overall combination of foods and beverages consumed over time rather than concentrating on single nutrients.
Recommends Nutrient-Dense Foods: A key tenet is to focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and to limit added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.

The Foundational Role of the Dietary Guidelines

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is a critical policy document providing evidence-based recommendations to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and meet nutrient needs. While not directly for the public, its influence is significant, shaping national feeding programs and advice from health professionals. Mandated by Congress since 1990 and updated every five years, the guidelines reflect the latest scientific evidence.

Informing Federal Food and Nutrition Programs

A primary purpose of the DGA is to inform federal food, nutrition, and health policies. These guidelines are the scientific basis for numerous government initiatives aimed at improving public health. This includes setting nutritional standards for programs like the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, guiding food packages for WIC, informing SNAP benefits, and ensuring nutritional standards for Older Americans Act programs. They also adapt for use in federal facilities to provide healthy options.

Guiding Health Professionals and Educators

The DGA is a trusted resource for health and nutrition professionals. It translates scientific evidence into actionable guidance for counseling individuals and groups, providing a consistent message about healthy eating. MyPlate is a consumer-friendly tool derived from the DGA to make core principles accessible to the public.

The Shift to Healthy Eating Patterns and Lifespan Focus

The DGA has evolved to focus on overall eating patterns and the entire lifespan, recognizing that the combination of foods and beverages over time significantly impacts health. The 2020-2025 edition included recommendations for all life stages, from birth through older adulthood.

Core Elements of a Healthy Eating Pattern

The current DGA emphasizes nutrient-dense foods rich in vitamins and minerals, with minimal solid fats, added sugars, or refined starches. A healthy eating pattern includes a variety of vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy or alternatives, and diverse protein foods. It also recommends limiting foods and beverages high in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.

Comparison: DGA vs. Individual Dietary Plans


Feature	Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA)	Individual Dietary Plans
Target Audience	Policymakers and health professionals to inform policy and education.	An individual with specific health goals, preferences, or medical conditions.
Scope	Broad, national-level recommendations for the general U.S. population across the lifespan.	Narrow, personalized guidance tailored to one person's needs.
Basis	Systematic review of the latest scientific evidence on nutrition and health.	Can be based on DGA, but often incorporates individual data, test results, and a person's unique circumstances.
Purpose	To promote overall public health and prevent widespread chronic disease.	To manage a specific health condition, lose weight, or meet athletic performance goals.
Applicability	A foundational framework, intended to be adapted for diverse cultural and personal needs.	A highly detailed and specific roadmap for one person's eating habits.

Future Implications and Conclusion

The DGA is a dynamic document providing an evidence-based framework for improving American nutritional health. By influencing policy and programs, it impacts the food supply and public health. Though average American diets don't fully align with the guidelines, the DGA's influence is vital for long-term public health strategy. The guidelines aim to guide the nation toward healthier eating patterns throughout life. For more information, visit {Link: Dietary Guidelines website https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are jointly responsible for producing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are reviewed and updated every five years to incorporate the latest scientific evidence regarding diet and health.

The guidelines help prevent chronic diseases by recommending healthy eating patterns that are low in added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium, which are often linked to increased risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

The guidelines are designed for the general population and serve as a framework that can be customized to reflect individual preferences, cultural traditions, and budgetary needs.

The guidelines serve as the basis for major federal nutrition programs, setting the standards for food served in schools, benefits provided through SNAP, and meals for older adults.

The DGA is the official policy document that outlines comprehensive dietary recommendations. MyPlate is a visual tool created by the USDA to help consumers easily understand and apply the DGA's core messages.

For the first time, the 2020-2025 edition provided dietary recommendations covering the entire lifespan, from birth to older adulthood, including specific guidance for infants and toddlers.

The DGA emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods (including seafood and plant-based options), and dairy (or fortified soy alternatives) as the building blocks of a healthy eating pattern.