New Federal Dietary Guidelines 2026: Ulster County Health Director Explains What They Mean for Your Diet

The federal government recently released updated national dietary guidelines that emphasize whole, minimally processed foods, an inverted food pyramid highlighting proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables, and a reduction in added sugar. The new guidance has sparked debate over what Americans should eat — and what this could mean for public health.

To discuss the implications , we spoke with Dr. Eve Walter, Public Health Director for Ulster County.

On Aligning Guidelines with Local Health Data
Dr. Walter said the written recommendations generally align with established dietary guidance, though the visual representation of the new pyramid may confuse the public.

“I want to first separate that there’s a bit of a difference between the recommendations as they’re written in the words and the recommendations as the visual appears,” she said. “When you then look at the image though, you know it’s recommending… protein recommendations typically like a giant picture of a steak or whole milk. These tend to be higher in saturated fats, so it starts confusing the message a little bit.”

She noted that some aspects of the guidelines, such as limiting sugar for children under 10, may be unrealistic. “Some of them are really valid and some of them are a little confusing,” she said.

On Saturated Fats and Heart Health
The new guidelines have raised concerns among some nutrition experts for emphasizing red meat and full-fat dairy, foods high in saturated fats linked to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Walter stressed that while the written guidance still advises reducing saturated fat, the visuals may send a mixed message.

“The research is a bit mixed on exactly how much saturated fats are, you know, should a person avoid?” she said. “It’s obviously been associated with higher risks of different kinds of cardiovascular diseases… I’m actually less… expecting that your average person on a day-to-day basis will sit here and all of a sudden be dramatically changing their diet as a result of this.”

On Equity and Food Access
Dr. Walter emphasized that the guidelines do not address broader public health issues such as food access, cultural differences, or affordability.

“There are many cultures who consume large amounts of rice and grains and healthfully consume them, and it’s sort of suggestive that how their eating is not appropriate,” she said. “It doesn’t at all address access to food… fast food… is way less expensive than healthy fruits and vegetables… that’s the bigger concern.”

Impact on Federal Nutrition Programs
The guidelines influence federal programs like WIC, SNAP, and school meals. Dr. Walter said the impact is already being felt locally.

“We have a WIC program and the WIC program recipients receive a card so that they can go shopping and the food is covered. Already recipients are being… this is dictating sort of what will be covered more, what will be covered less,” she said. “There’s definitely a higher level of proteins and fruits and vegetables being covered, but there’s still this issue of access to fruits and vegetables… sometimes individuals are shopping in places where fruits and vegetables are not commonly available or affordable.”

Challenges in Public Adoption
Dr. Walter said education is key, especially for SNAP recipients who may not have access to nutritionists.

“Already, we have been setting an agenda for our public health department to really figure out how we can educate people on how to identify and cook the healthiest foods possible,” she said. “Not everyone has that opportunity… other people are going to have to navigate it on their own and that’s a concern.”

On Alcohol Guidance
The new guidelines also remove specific daily limits on alcohol, advising Americans simply to “drink less” for overall health. Dr. Walter described the messaging as vague and potentially confusing.

“It just feeds into the larger confusion… this is all just becomes confusing to the public who don’t know where things are or why things would change and what’s the motivation behind it,” she said.

Key Health Outcomes to Watch
For Ulster County, Dr. Walter said public health monitoring will focus on food access and education.

“Really getting the message of not only what healthy foods are out there, but how is access working? How do we help people improve their access to these foods, how do we help people understand how to cook these foods that they may be less familiar with,” she said. “We have people who sometimes have to travel very far just to get to a supermarket… and that’s a real problem.”

Image: Elle, 18 months, reaches toward the bread at the bottom of the revised food pyramid while held by her mother Claire Dooley, after an announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about nutrition policy, at Health and Human Services Headquarters, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)