Texas Releases Its First State-Specific Nutrition Guidelines

In Texas, we love to eat. But recently, Texas has released its first state-specific nutritional guidelines, offering Texans new recommendations on what we should be consuming.

Why Did Texas Create Nutrition Guidelines?

The Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee (TNAC) published the guidelines as part of its inaugural report. The committee was created in 2025 to review scientific findings on nutrition and ultra-processed foods and give recommendations on how Texans can improve their health through what they eat.

The TNAC was created by SB 25 during the 2025 Texas Legislature, with members appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. The legislation supports physical education in elementary and middle school, enhances nutrition education at all levels, and requires food manufacturers to label foods containing certain ingredients.

READ MORE: 11 Foods That Were Created in Texas and Loved by Millions

Here Are Texas' New Nutrition Guidelines

These are the guidelines from the Texas Health and Human Services website:

• Fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal for better digestion and health. Mix in a variety of colors of produce.
• Eat three or more servings of healthy proteins each day to keep your muscles, brain, bones, and skin strong. These can be a mixture of beans, seafood, meats, eggs, and nuts.
• Include healthy fats every day. Sources include nuts, seeds, fatty fish, olive oil, and avocados.
• Eat food for healthy bones and teeth every day. Nutrients like protein, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, and magnesium can come from dairy sources (milk, yogurt, cheese) and non-dairy sources (fatty fish with bones, green vegetables, beans, seeds, and nuts).
• When you choose grains, choose whole grains. They are minimally processed and have fewer added ingredients like preservatives.
• Drink water when you are thirsty. Reduce or avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol. Reduce or avoid sweeteners and artificial creamers in coffee or tea.

The committee's report highlights lifelong nutrition education to give people greater confidence and practical ability to make and support healthy food choices.

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So What Do Texans Think?

Most of these guidelines are common sense and good reminders for all of us if we want to live a healthy life. As someone who has struggled with my weight going up and down, self-control is a huge part of living a healthy lifestyle.

While it's good to have suggestions from health professionals remember knowing what to eat and actually doing it are two different things.

What are your thoughts on these new guidelines. Let me know your thoughts, send me an email at billy.jenkins@townsquaremedia.com.