Dr. Hope Barkoukis sat down with Mike DeMarco of The Educated Patient Podcast on January 26 to discuss the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans, protein hype, and what actually matters.
A major focus of the conversation is the newly released Dietary Guidelines visual, often referred to as the updated “food pyramid.” While the written guidelines continue to emphasize whole dietary patterns, fiber and reducing ultraprocessed foods, Barkoukis explains that the visual has caused confusion, particularly its heavy emphasis on animal protein and the placement of whole grains. For patients, her advice is simple: Don’t panic. The core message hasn’t changed; variety, balance and food quality still matter most.