The Transformation of the Food Pyramid A New Era in Nutrition at Beirut Arab University

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Beirut Arab University organized a lecture titled "The Transformation of the Food Pyramid: A New Era in Nutrition." The lecture was delivered by the Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition Dr. Dima Kreidieh, in the presence of the University’s Secretary General Dr. Omar Houri, Dean of the Faculty Professor Rajaa Fakhoury, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Professor Hania Nakkash, along with faculty members, nutrition students, and dietary specialists from various health and academic institutions.

Dr. Dima Kreidieh opened the lecture by noting"In recent years, the food pyramid has undergone a remarkable transformation that reflects the evolution of scientific concepts in nutrition and public health. While previous models relied on a clear balance between food groups, current recommendations come with changes in presentation and messaging that may create confusion regarding nutritional priorities rather than reinforcing that balance."

Kraydieh continued, "The new USDA Dietary Guidelines, issued on January 7, 2026, indicate a significant shift compared to previous editions. While past guidelines focused on achieving a balance between all food groups using tools such as MyPlate, the current guidelines focus more heavily on food quality, increasing dietary fiber intake, and limiting ultra-processed foods and added sugars, while maintaining the recommendation that saturated fats should not exceed 10% of total energy intake."

Dr. Kreidieh pointed out that a wide range of professional, health, and industrial entities such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Syndicate of Dietitians in Lebanon have expressed both areas of agreement and points of concern. This reflects an ongoing debate on how to communicate nutritional approaches and translate them into evidence-based public policies.

The lecture concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees engaged in discussions and sought further clarifications on the evolving standards.