I’ve listened to a lot of critiques about the DGA. The biggest controversy seems to focus on saturated fat (SFA) … as expected. Let me share a different perspective. For 50 years, saturated fat and cholesterol have been used to demonize animal-derived foods even though both are essential in the human body. From 1975 until 2010 there was a 35% decrease in consumption of eggs, dairy and beef and a decrease in SFA from 15% to 11%. Benefits? None, but it did result in massive increase in processed foods and epidemics of obesity and diabetes. The old DGA were focused on what to avoid … avoid SFA and that was translated into avoid animal foods. The new DGA focus on what to do … prioritize your diet around your protein choices. In general, protein foods, both animal and plant foods, are the most nutrient dense for both amino acids and micronutrients. Your personal choices about your protein foods dictates almost everything else about your diet. If you choose protein within the range of 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg your likelihood of meeting all nutrient requirements is good. If you also focus on meeting fiber goals (veggies, fruits, beans), your diet will likely be good.