Maria Katrina Paras

Article (news)

New US Food Pyramid 2026.jpg

<p>For better or worse, Filipino food choices have long carried an unofficial stamp of approval: “<strong>imported = better</strong>.” Whether we’re choosing cereals, snacks, or supplements, anything American-branded tends to feel more aspirational, more trustworthy, and somehow healthier. So when the <strong>U.S. government just flipped its own food pyramid and dietary guidance</strong>, it’s worth asking: <strong>Will this shift ripple all the way to Filipino dinner tables?</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17679413710902.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">The New Food Pyramid by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>On January 7, 2026, the <strong>U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)</strong> and the <strong>U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)</strong> released the <strong>2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans</strong>—<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dietary-guidelines-rfk-jr-sugar-processed-foods-gut-health/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">described by officials as the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades.</a></p><p>Unlike previous editions, the new guidance explicitly urges Americans to <strong>move away from ultra-processed and added-sugar foods</strong> and instead prioritize <a href="https://time.com/7344593/new-dietary-guidelines-protein-processed-foods/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">whole, nutrient-dense foods like protein-rich meats and dairy, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats</a>—even encouraging traditional fats like butter or beef tallow.</p><p>The visual that’s gone viral? An “<strong>upside-down</strong>” food pyramid that places <strong>protein and whole foods at the top</strong>, signaling their growing importance, with grains and refined carbs toward the bottom.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>So why should Filipino consumers care?</strong></div><p>Because Americans still move markets. Filipino shoppers look to U.S. trends not just for inspiration but also for validation. A <a href="https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/analysis/2025/food-policy-developments/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NielsenIQ</a> industry report highlights how shifting food policies and wellness priorities in the U.S. influence global consumer demand for healthier formulations and reduced processed ingredients—something brands in Asia are already responding to.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17679440718641.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><p>Many Filipinos often turn to Western brands when it comes to food trends and products</p><div><br/></div>Look at how past American health trends shaped Filipino food behavior:<div></div><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>The rise of low-fat everything in the 1990s and 2000s helped popularize diet versions of sodas, yogurts, and snack bars here.</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>The oat milk and plant-based boom? That followed wellness signals from U.S. influencers and retailers.</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>Keto, paleo, and high-protein diets all traced their mainstream moment back to America’s wellness media ecosystem.</p></li></ul><p>Now, the message from the 2025–2030 U.S. guidelines is clear: “<strong>eat real food</strong>,” and avoid packaged, highly processed convenience foods.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Why this shift matters in Manila’s grocery aisles</strong></div><p>In the Philippines, where imported goods carry both status and perceived quality, this new orientation toward whole foods over ultra-processed could nudge consumer behavior in subtle but powerful ways:</p><div><br/></div><p><strong>Supermarkets </strong>may expand their fresh produce and high-protein sections while slimming down sugar-heavy imports.</p><p><strong>Cafés and restaurants </strong>could lean further into protein-forward meals and healthy-fat options, repositioned as globally validated “real food.”</p><p><strong>Consumers</strong> might start reading labels more critically, as social media spreads evidence-based wellness tips faster than ever.</p><div><br/></div><p>Economists and food researchers alike note that dietary guidance, especially from the U.S., doesn’t just influence what we believe is healthy…it can shape what we actually buy. Whether through school meal programs, corporate wellness trends, or Instagram influencers reshaping menus, the effect is cumulative.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767944208958real food.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A chance to rethink what “healthy” means here</strong></div><p>Interestingly, the new American guidelines echo what Filipino grandmothers have long practiced: meals built around <strong>protein, veggies, and real home-cooked food</strong>—not sugary snacks or ultra-processed convenience foods. It’s almost a validation of local culinary wisdom in global nutritional fashion.</p><p>Of course, culture matters. Filipinos may still have a fondness for imported brands and U.S.-endorsed products, but this updated dietary message gives the local wellness movement a stronger voice and a stronger data-backed platform.</p><p>After all, when America changes its plate, the Philippines doesn’t just watch. We listen, then reinterpret it through our own lens of taste, tradition, and, increasingly, wellbeing. Yes, rice is still life, but it will have to be portioned.</p>

<p>How the newly updated U.S. food pyramid could quietly influence Filipino eating habits, grocery choices, and wellness trends, especially in a country where “imported” still signals “better.”</p>

How the newly updated U.S. food pyramid could quietly influence Filipino eating habits, grocery choices, and wellness trends, especially in a country where “imported” still signals “better.”

What the New American Food Pyramid Signals for Filipino Consumers

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What the New American Food Pyramid Signals for Filipino Consumers

Danah Gutierrez

Published Jan 09, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 09, 2026 03:38 PM PHT

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