New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Highlight Lentils

The new 2020-2025 U.S. dietary guidelines have been released which highlight lentils as an important nutrient-dense food to be consumed as part of protein and vegetable intake to make up a healthy dietary pattern.

The latest version of the U.S. dietary guidelines were released January 2021 and introduced several changes and updates to previous guidelines.

Of note, the guidelines highlight a focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient dense foods and beverages. The guidelines give examples of nutrient dense foods in important food groups including protein where lentils are highlighted alongside lean meats, poultry, eggs, seafood, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products. Lentils are also underscored in the vegetable food group which calls out dark green, red, and orange vegetables, as well as beans, peas, and starchy and other vegetables.

Lentils are a sustainably produced nutrient-dense plant protein ingredient important for healthy and diverse dietary patterns and it is positive to seem them specifically called out in this latest version of the U.S. dietary guidelines. To read more about these new guidelines, click here.