Texas Wrote Its Own Nutrition Guidelines. Here Are the Six Rules, in Plain Words.
A state committee created by the Legislature urges half a plate of produce, three servings of protein, healthy fats, whole grains and water instead of sugary drinks.
Texas now has nutrition guidelines written by Texans for Texans. The Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee published them in September in its first report, the Department of State Health Services announced. The committee reviews research on nutrition and ultraprocessed foods and recommends ways Texans can eat for better health.
The six guidelines
Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal, and mix in a variety of colors.
Eat three or more servings of healthy protein each day. Beans, seafood, meat, eggs and nuts all count.
Include healthy fats every day, such as nuts, seeds, fatty fish, olive oil and avocados.
Eat foods for healthy bones and teeth every day. Protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K and magnesium can come from milk, yogurt and cheese, or from fatty fish with bones, green vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts.
When you choose grains, choose whole grains, which are minimally processed.
Drink water when you are thirsty. Reduce or avoid sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, and cut back on sweeteners and artificial creamers in coffee or tea.
"It isn't about perfection," said committee chair Dr. Jaclyn Albin. "Starting with one or two realistic changes and building from there can make healthy eating more achievable and sustainable for Texans and their families."
Where they came from
The committee was created by Senate Bill 25, passed by the Legislature in 2025, and its members were appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. According to DSHS, the law also expands physical education in elementary and middle school, strengthens nutrition education and requires food makers to label foods that contain certain ingredients. The guidelines will be the basis for expanded nutrition teaching from kindergarten through college and in training for health professionals.
The bill's author, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, said the U.S. health care system spends about $4.5 trillion a year, with 90% going to chronic and mental health conditions. The committee will review new research and update its recommendations each year.
Start at the table
Our bodies are a trust, and much of caring for them happens at the family table. None of these rules requires a costly diet plan. They do require turning down a lot of what comes in boxes and bottles. Health care access matters too, especially in rural Texas, where the state plans $78 million in grants to 216 providers. But the cheapest care is still the meal that keeps you well.
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