The US has released new dietary guidelines, and they’ve already caused a nutrition firestorm. Higher protein targets. More dairy. Fewer carbs. A tougher stance on ultra-processed foods.

But do these changes actually matter, especially if you live in Australia?

In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down what’s changed, why it’s controversial, and what’s genuinely useful versus what can be ignored.

Then we get practical, because real nutrition decisions happen in lunchboxes and supermarket aisles, not food pyramids.

In this episode:


The new US dietary guidelines and why they’ve divided dietitians


Higher protein targets, dairy’s comeback, and the carb rethink


What this could signal for future Australian guidelines


Why ultra-processed foods are finally being called out

Plus:


A simple lunchbox formula that actually works


Why kids’ lunches are often low in protein, and easy fixes


The truth about protein meat snacks and “no nitrate” options


A high-protein milk worth considering


Are fermented veggies really worth it for gut health?

If you want clear, practical nutrition advice without hype or fear-mongering, this episode is for you.

Hit play, and subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s discussion.

The US has released new dietary guidelines, and they&rsquo;ve already caused a nutrition firestorm. Higher protein targets. More dairy. Fewer carbs. A tougher stance on ultra-processed foods.
But do these changes actually matter, especially if you live in Australia?
In this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell break down what&rsquo;s changed, why it&rsquo;s controversial, and what&rsquo;s genuinely useful versus what can be ignored.
Then we get practical, because real nutrition decisions happen in lunchboxes and supermarket aisles, not food pyramids.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>
The new US dietary guidelines and why they&rsquo;ve divided dietitians
</li>
<li>
Higher protein targets, dairy&rsquo;s comeback, and the carb rethink
</li>
<li>
What this could signal for future Australian guidelines
</li>
<li>
Why ultra-processed foods are finally being called out
</li>
</ul>
Plus:
<ul>
<li>
A simple lunchbox formula that actually works
</li>
<li>
Why kids&rsquo; lunches are often low in protein, and easy fixes
</li>
<li>
The truth about protein meat snacks and &ldquo;no nitrate&rdquo; options
</li>
<li>
A high-protein milk worth considering
</li>
<li>
Are fermented veggies really worth it for gut health?
</li>
</ul>
If you want clear, practical nutrition advice without hype or fear-mongering, this episode is for you.
Hit play, and subscribe so you don&rsquo;t miss next week&rsquo;s discussion.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.

Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

Unlock your best health in just 30 minutes a week. Join the thousands of listeners who’ve transformed their lives with The Nutrition Couch, Australia’s top-ranked nutrition podcast. Each Wednesday at 6am AEST, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell deliver powerful, bite-sized advice that’s easy to implement and designed to make healthy living simple and enjoyable.
Ready for a healthier you? Subscribe now and start your journey with actionable tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Don’t wait—your path to better health begins here with The Nutrition Couch.

The Nutrition Couch

Welcome to The Nutrition Couch, a weekly podcast from two of Australia’s leading dietitians & nutritionists, Susie Burrell & Leanne Ward. This is the first nutrition podcast that looks at weekly food & health trends. Every Sunday at 7am AEST, we will be uploading an episode that covers nutrition news, trending food products, case studies and we will also be answering our listener questions. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and follow us on social media @the_nutrition_couch_podcast to ask us questions & see our food product reviews.

The new US 2025–2030 dietary guidelines have flipped the food pyramid and pushed higher protein targets and more dairy, but do you actually need to care? Leanne and Susie unpack the controversy, share practical lunchbox protein fixes for back-to-school, review a low-fat high-protein milk, and answer whether fermented veggies are really worth it for gut health.

New US Food Pyramid: High-Protein Targets, Dairy Debate + Lunchbox Protein Fixes

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