Diet, Nutrition and Food Today with Nutritionist Wendy Wesley

On Midpoint on Jan.21, 2026, Wendy Wesley, a licensed nutritionist and registered dietitian, explains how to balance our daily nutritional habits and navigate the new federal dietary guidelines.

How will the new dietary guidelines and food pyramid changes affect our lives? Shelley asks crucial questions about processed foods, daily protein intake, fiber consumption, GLP-1, and the pressures of eating healthy. The new 2025-2030 Food Pyramid is an “upside- down” version of the dietary guidelines introduced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1992. Now, the nutritional focus shifts from an emphasis on eating carbohydrates to eating more meat and dairy. Is this new recommendation based on science or on politics? Nutritionists like Wendy Wesley would emphasize more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains over meat and dairy, while urging Americans to mainly avoid ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks to maintain a healthy diet. Among all the dietary recommendations and restrictions, Wesley emphasizes that it’s still important to enjoy your meals while considering the costs and availability of healthy foods.  Wesley also discusses how cooking at home can greatly improve nutrition. She shares the indicators of ultra-processed foods, explains the difference between plant and animal protein, and offers her take on GLP-1 drugs. Ultimately, she explains the importance of food labeling and suggests that if a food product has an ingredient listed that can’t be purchased in the local grocery store, it is most likely to be ultra-processed and should be avoided in a healthy diet.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s  MAHA, or “Make America Healthy Again” campaign sounds excellent, but it’s easy to get lost and confused by all the terminology, calorie counts, marketing, applications, diets, and advice on social media.  Are dairy, gluten, and sugar the three villains?  How much protein is enough, and how to get it from which foods?  Is fiber the next BIG thing?   How has the pandemic changed our eating habits?  Is there a perfect diet for everyone’s needs and tastes?  Does GLP-1 work for everyone? Another thing to keep in mind on a healthy dietary journey is limiting liquid calories: alcohol, shakes, coffee, and soda.

More healthy tips and information about Wendy Wesley can be found on her website. You can listen to the entire show on demand from the archives here, on the WMNF app, or as a WMNF
MidPoint podcast on Spotify or Apple Music.