2020-2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans: What Families Need To Know

The new USDA Dietary Guidelines Report for 2020-2025 was recently released, providing evidence-based nutrition guidelines that help shape and promote the food choices made by millions of Americans every day. What’s really important for families is now  the first time ever, the guidelines are being given for pregnant women and infants 0-24 months of age. Given the importance of diet and nutrition in this age range, it’s exciting that there are specific recommendations dedicated to this group of Americans. After reviewing the report for the new 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), there are 3 key recommendations that are important for families to take into consideration:

  1. No Added Sugar for Children Under 2: As part of the new guidelines for babies and toddlers, the 2020-2025 DGA is recommending no added sugar for infants and children under the age of 2. This helps to address the obesity epidemic that now affects nearly 5 million American children. In fact, the USDA reported that a majority of infants just in the 6-12 month age range had already consumed some amount of added sugars.

  2. Diet Diversity Before the Age of 2: Feeding children a diverse diet in the first years of life can help positively influence their tastes and habits later in life. The guidelines recommend : “introduce children to a wide variety of healthy foods that are important in shaping healthy dietary patterns.”

  3. Feed Egg and Peanut to Every Baby to Help Prevent Food Allergies: The new guidelines also recommend feeding babies peanut and egg starting at 4 months of age to prevent severe food allergies. This change was supported by clinical trials, showing that early introduction of allergenic foods is safe and can help significantly reduce a baby’s risk of developing food allergies. This important recommendation applies to all babies and risk groups, underlining the importance of early prevention to help prevent more than 200,000 food allergies annually. 

While it’s exciting that parents can follow recommendations to prevent up to 80% of food allergies, many parents have questions about how to introduce allergenic foods at home. Dr. Hamilton answers your commonly asked questions about early allergen introduction and Ready, Set, Food!, the only early introduction system that aligns with the new USDA guidelines to help prevent up to 80% of food allergies. 

Food Allergy Prevention Q&A with Dr. Robert Hamilton

When should I introduce allergenic foods to my baby?

The typical recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics is to begin food at about 6 months of age. I normally begin with foods like cereals, fruits, and vegetables, and then I finally get to the allergenic proteins such as milk, peanut, and egg at about 9 months of age. However, the new guidelines on food allergy prevention including the new USDA guidelines recommend introducing allergenic foods starting at 4 months of age. The good news is with a product like Ready, Set, Food! you can actually begin to introduce the proteins of eggs, peanuts, and milk much earlier on and I typically begin to do that at about 4 months of age with their all-natural and evidence-based bottle introduction system. 

Isn't it recommended to wait until 6 months to start solids?  

Studies show and the new USDA Guidelines recommend that earlier introduction of allergens at about 4 months of age (which by the way is totally safe to do) actually benefits the child more than delaying. I am now recommending Ready, Set, Food! to children as early as 4 months of age and they are tolerating it beautifully. For the new USDA Guidelines: https://readysetfood.com/blogs/community/new-usda-dietary-guidelines-introduce-peanut-and-egg-in-first-year-of-life-1

How long do I need to continue exposure to allergenic foods?

It should be an ongoing maintenance. Studies show that early introduction of course is good, but the real key is maintaining that stimulation or exposure over time. I typically tell parents to keep going until the child is able to eat the food itself, for example peanuts or peanut butter, regularly. 

Why do you recommend Ready, Set, Food!?

When I first became aware of the Ready, Set, Food! product, I became a big fan simply because there's nothing more problematic than to have a two or three year old child that has significant allergies, and especially to peanuts, eggs, and milk, which are the three most common childhood allergens. The ability to introduce these allergens at 4 months of age, maintain that for a relatively short period of time, and by doing that obviate 80% of food allergies - that is compelling. I now recommend starting children on Ready, Set, Food! as early as 4 months of age and I think this is going to make a real difference. I think this is a real game changer in the pediatric world.