The Dietary Pattern for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is a flexible framework that supports cultural traditions, personal preferences, and different lifestyles to enable policymakers, programs, health professionals, and Americans at any stage of life customize and enjoy whole, healthy, and nutritious foods. The Dietary Pattern aligns with evidence showing relationships between diet and health outcomes and meet nutrient needs of individuals at various life stages as established in the Dietary Reference Intakes.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 includes a supplementary document titled Daily Servings by Calorie Level. The Daily Servings by Calorie Level includes 12 calorie levels intended for ages 2 and older, ranging from 1,000 to 3,200 calories per day. Estimated calorie needs can be calculated using the DRI Calculator for Health Professionals.
Food Pattern Modeling Overview
We initiated food pattern modeling analyses in 2005, and the methodology was utilized by the 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committees (committees) to inform the development of the Dietary Pattern. Food pattern modeling is one of three complementary scientific approaches used to understand how changes to food-based dietary recommendations could affect Americans’ abilities to meet their nutrient needs. Use the links under Publications and Reports (below) to learn more about the food pattern modeling analyses conducted by previous committees.
USDA is committed to continuous quality advancement (CQA) for food pattern modeling. To prepare for the 2025 committee, USDA and HHS staff collaborated on CQA efforts for food pattern modeling, focusing on methods to better reflect the complex interactions involved, variability in intakes, and range of possible healthful diets. Federal staff evaluated the analytic methods and development of data inputs and constraints for food pattern modeling and compared them to methods used in the development of guidance in other countries, as well as other modeling exercises described in scientific publications.
Publications and Reports
- 2025
- 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2024. Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://doi.org/10.52570/DGAC2025
- 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Food Pattern Modeling: Reports and Supplements
- 2021
- Dewey KG, Pannucci T, Casavale KO, Davis TA, Donovan SM, Kleinman RE, Taveras EM, Bailey RL, Novotny R, Schneeman BO, Stang J, de Jesus J, Stoody EE. Development of food pattern recommendations for infants and toddlers 6-24 months of age to support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. J Nutr, 2021;151(10):3113-3124. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab201
- 2020
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2020. Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington, DC. Available at: https://doi.org/10.52570/DGAC2020
Supplementary Reports:
Food Pattern Modeling Report: Ages 2 Years and Older
Food Pattern Modeling Report: Under 2 Years of Age
Food Pattern Modeling Report: Added Sugars Exercise 1
Food Pattern Modeling Report: Added Sugars Exercise 2
Food Pattern Modeling Report: Added Sugars Exercise 3- 2015
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2015. Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington, DC.
Supplementary Reports:
Appendix E-3: USDA Food Patterns for Special Analyses
Appendix E-3.1.A2. USDA Food Patterns: Item Clusters, Representative Foods, and Percent of Consumption- 2012
- Britten P, Cleveland LE, Koegel KL, Kuczynski KJ, Nickols-Richardson SM. Impact of typical rather than nutrient-dense food choices in the US Department of Agriculture Food Patterns. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(10):1560-1569. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.06.360
- Britten P, Cleveland LE, Koegel, KL, Kuczynski, KJ, Nickols-Richardson SM. Updated US Department of Agriculture Food Patterns meet goals of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112:1648-55. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.05.021
- 2010
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2010. Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington, DC.
Supplementary Reports:
Appendix E-3.1 Adequacy of USDA Food Patterns: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.2 Realigning Vegetable Subgroups: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.3 Vegetarian Food Patterns: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.4 Starchy Vegetables: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.5 “Typical Choices” Food Patterns: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.6 Milk Group and Alternatives: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.7 Replacing all Non-Whole Grains with Whole Grains: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.8 Cholesterol: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.9 Reducing Cholesterol-Raising Fatty Acids: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.10 Seafood: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.11 Sodium: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis
Appendix E-3.12 Potassium: Food Pattern Modeling Analysis- 2006
- Britten P, Marcoe K, Yamini S, Davis C. Development of Food Intake Patterns for the MyPyramid Food Guidance System. J Nutr Educ Behav, 2006;38:S78-S92. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.08.007
- Marcoe K, Juan W, Yamini S, Carlson A, Britten P. Development of Food Group Composites and Nutrient Profiles for the MyPyramid Food Guidance System. J Nutr Educ Behav, 2006;38:S93-S107. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.05.014
- Britten P, Haven J, Davis C. Consumer Research for Development of Educational Messages for the MyPyramid Food Guidance System. J Nutr Educ Behav, 2006;38:S108-S123. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.08.006
- Haven J, Burns A, Britten P, Davis C. Developing the Consumer Interface for the MyPyramid Food Guidance System. J Nutr Educ Behav, 2006;38: S124-S135. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.08.002
- Britten P, Lyon J, Weaver CM, Kris-Etherton PM, Nicklas TA, Weber JA, Davis CA. MyPyramid Food Intake Pattern Modeling for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. J Nutr Educ Behav 2006;38:S143-S152. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.08.004
- Yamini S, Juan W, Marcoe K, Britten P. Impact of Using Updated Food Consumption and Composition Data on Selected MyPyramid Food Group Nutrient Profiles. J Nutr Educ Behav 2006;38: S136-S142.