Commissioner Sid Miller Helps Shape First-Ever Texas Nutrition Guidelines

As a member of the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, Miller helps advance practical recommendations emphasizing real food and Texas agriculture

AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a member of the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee (TNAC), helped shape a historic set of nutritional guidelines developed by Texans specifically for Texans, offering families practical recommendations for eating healthier and making better food choices.

The guidelines are included in TNAC’s annual report and represent a major milestone in Texas’ effort to examine the relationship between nutrition, dietary patterns, ultra-processed foods, and chronic disease. The committee was created by the Texas Legislature to review the latest scientific research and develop recommendations aimed at improving Texans’ health.

As Texas Agriculture Commissioner and a member of TNAC, Miller brought the perspective of Texas farmers, ranchers, food producers, and the state’s agricultural economy to the committee’s work.

“I was proud to have a seat at the table and help develop guidelines that get nutrition back to the basics,” Commissioner Miller said. “Good health starts with good food, and good food starts with agriculture. Texans don’t need complicated rules or a chemistry lesson at the grocery store. Eat real food, eat your fruits and vegetables, get plenty of good protein, drink milks, and whenever you can, buy Texas.”

The new guidelines recommend that Texans:

• Fill half their plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal, incorporating a variety of colors.
• Eat three or more servings of healthy proteins each day, including beans, seafood, meat, eggs, and nuts.
• Include healthy fats every day, such as nuts, seeds, fatty fish, olive oil, and avocados.
• Choose foods that support healthy bones and teeth, including dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, along with nutrient-rich non-dairy options.
• Choose whole grains when eating grains, emphasizing minimally processed foods with fewer added ingredients.
• Drink water when thirsty while reducing or avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol, as well as sweeteners and artificial creamers in coffee and tea.

Commissioner Miller said his work on the committee was particularly important because nutrition policy cannot be separated from the farmers and ranchers who produce the food Texans eat.

“For too long, we’ve talked about nutrition without talking enough about agriculture,” Miller said. “You can’t separate the two. Our farmers and ranchers produce the beef, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, grains, and other wholesome foods that put healthy food on American plates. If we want healthier Texans, we have to start here.”

The committee also examined the evolving scientific debate surrounding ultra-processed foods. TNAC noted that definitions continue to evolve and emphasized that not every food classified as ultra-processed carries the same nutritional or health implications. The committee recommended evaluating overall dietary quality alongside the degree of processing.

The guidelines have also received attention for their emphasis on water. The International Bottled Water Association praised the committee for becoming the first state-level body to develop dietary guidelines encouraging the public to choose water first.

TNAC Chair Dr. Jaclyn Albin said the recommendations are intended to translate nutritional science into realistic choices Texans can make every day.

“These new nutritional guidelines translate the science into practical steps Texans can use to support their health and well-being,” Albin said. “At the same time, we recognize that healthy eating has to work in the real world. It isn’t about perfection. Starting with one or two realistic changes and building from there can make healthy eating more achievable and sustainable for Texans and their families.”

For Commissioner Miller, the recommendations represent an opportunity to put Texas agriculture at the center of the conversation about improving nutrition.

“This is what common-sense nutrition looks like,” Miller said. “Less junk, more real food. More Texas beef, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on the table. And when you’re thirsty, drink water. It’s simple, practical, and something Texas families can actually use.”

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