meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Short Wave

A dietitian and doctor review RFK Jr's new food pyramid

Short Wave

NPR

Science, Life Sciences, News, Nature, Daily News, Astronomy

4.76.5K Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The new food pyramid was released earlier this year. It emphasizes protein, full-fat dairy and what Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls “healthy fats.” These guidelines influence the standards for  school lunches, food labeling and programs like SNAP. Today on the show, Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong chats with registered dietitian nutritionist Shana Spence, and Dr. Sarah Kim, a diabetes specialist, about the new guidelines. Plus, NPR’s Reflect America fellow Kadin Mills unpacks how the new food pyramid could change school lunch trays. 

Check out more of Kadin’s coverage about the changes in dietary guidelines.

Interested in more health science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

0:05.7

Hey, shortwaver, Emily Kwong here.

0:08.0

So earlier this year, the new inverted food pyramid dropped.

0:13.3

You know, the one that emphasizes protein, full fat dairy, and what Health and Human Services

0:18.3

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls healthy fats at the top.

0:22.8

This pyramid, it was big news for a couple days, then maybe you forgot about it.

0:26.4

But it is important because it reflects new dietary guidelines.

0:29.9

These come directly from the federal government and could influence school lunches, food labeling, and programs like SNAP.

0:36.4

So here to talk about how the food pyramid may change school lunch trays is Caden Mills,

0:41.8

and PR's Reflect America Fellow.

0:43.9

Hey, Kaden.

0:44.7

Hi, Emily.

0:45.4

Hi.

0:46.3

Okay, so I've been out of school for a while.

0:49.1

What are the kids eating these days?

0:50.7

I actually got a tour of a kitchen at Mary H. Matula Elementary School in Maryland.

0:55.7

And like a lot of schools, they rely on ready-made meals that they can easily heat up.

1:00.2

Okay.

1:01.1

With the exception of fruit and veggies, almost everything comes pre-packed.

1:05.2

And what are you serving today?

1:07.2

We have French bread pizza. We have rotini and garlic bread, we have broccoli and carrots,

1:12.4

and then our crispy chicken salads. And then we'll have our juices here and our cup fruits here.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.