Texas releases first nutrition guidelines created by Texans, for Texans

New recommendations focus on practical, realistic changes — from eating more fruits and vegetables to choosing whole grains, healthy proteins and water over sugary drinks.

AUSTIN, Texas — Texans now have a new set of nutrition recommendations designed specifically with the state’s families in mind.

The Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee has released the first nutritional guidelines created by Texans for Texans, offering practical steps residents can use to improve their health through everyday food choices.

The recommendations emphasize that healthy eating does not have to mean making dramatic changes all at once. Instead, health officials encourage families to begin with one or two realistic improvements and build healthier habits over time.

Among the recommendations, Texans are encouraged to:

• Fill about half their plate with fruits and vegetables and include a variety of colors.

• Eat healthy sources of protein each day, including beans, seafood, meat, eggs and nuts.

• Include healthy fats from foods such as nuts, seeds, fish, olive oil and avocados.

• Choose foods that support strong bones and teeth, including sources of calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and protein.

• Select whole grains whenever possible.

• Drink water when thirsty and reduce sugary beverages, alcohol and heavily sweetened coffee or tea.

  
  

The committee also places an emphasis on choosing less processed foods and building greater awareness of what is in the foods Texans eat every day.

The guidelines are part of a broader effort to strengthen nutrition education across Texas, including in public schools and health education programs. The goal is to give children and adults practical knowledge they can use throughout life to make better food choices.

Nutrition plays an important role in overall health, including maintaining a healthy weight and supporting the heart, brain, bones, muscles and digestive system. Consistently making healthier food choices can also help reduce the risk of several chronic health conditions.

The Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee plans to review new research and update its recommendations annually.

For families, the message is simple: healthy eating does not have to be perfect — even small changes made consistently can make a meaningful difference over time.