Today, I want to introduce you to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report. Every five years, a committee made up of experts in nutrition, public health, and related fields reviews the latest scientific evidence and makes recommendations that help inform the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. These guidelines help shape nutrition recommendations and many federal nutrition programs across the country. One recommendation from this year's report really caught my attention: beans, peas, and lentils were the only vegetable subgroup for which the Committee pursued an explicit increase in the recommended amount. Think black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, and split peas. The Committee also recommended placing these foods first within the Protein Foods group to put greater emphasis on plant-based sources of protein. Why should we be eating more of them? Beans, peas, and lentils are packed with plant-based protein and important nutrients such as folate, potassium, magnesium, and choline. They are also inexpensive, versatile, and easy to add to foods you may already eat. A few simple ways to add more include: - Tossing chickpeas or black beans into a salad. - Adding beans or lentils to soups, chili, tacos, or grain bowls. - Using hummus as a snack or sandwich spread. - Mixing lentils or beans into ground-meat dishes to stretch the meal while adding more nutrients. - But there is another big reason legumes deserve some attention: fiber. The Committee identified dietary fiber as a nutrient of public health concern because Americans consistently do not consume enough. In fact, only about 6% of Americans ages 1 and older have fiber intakes above the recommended Adequate Intake. So, adding beans, peas, and lentils to your diet is one simple way to help close that fiber gap. Next week, we'll dive into what fiber actually does and why getting enough of it is so important for our health.

Back in May, I graduated from the University of Florida with my Master's degree in Public Health (MPH). This accomplishment was the culmination of years of late nights, endless assignments and exams, and maybe a breakdown or two along the way. You might think that discipline and hard work are what got me here, and they certainly helped, but really, the thing that carried me through it all was curiosity. I arrived at college a scared, yet determined, 18-year-old experiencing life for the first time. The moment I stepped into my first collegiate-level chemistry class, I was sure this was the path to my lifelong dream of becoming a physician. So I did all the things a typical pre-med does to get into medical school: organic chemistry, physics, hospital volunteering, clinical experience, leadership on campus — the works. But somewhere in the middle of going through the motions, something in me knew I wanted to make a difference on a larger scale. I didn't quite know what that looked like yet, so I let curiosity take the front seat and signed up for a public health course on the U.S. healthcare system. I fell in love with the content and discovered a side of healthcare I never knew existed. A truth built around a single, uncomfortable truth: a broken system full of unnecessary barriers that only the most wealthy can overcome. I became obsessed with the idea of fixing that system and closing the gaps that leave so many people at the mercy of an industry that too often prioritizes profit over health. I knew it was wrong, and I cared too much to look away. That curiosity is what led me to pursue an MPH, where I focused my studies on how care is delivered and how we fix what's broken. The coursework was hard, and there were plenty of moments that felt overwhelming, but I kept that curiosity in the back of my mind, and it was enough to pull me through and keep me working toward this new passion. I found policy to be the most effective lever for making the change I so desperately wanted to see. I sought out opportunities in health policy reform that were data-driven and actually served people, not just numbers. While finishing my coursework, I started a position with the U.S. House of Representatives, working on healthcare policy at the federal level. I built the skills and knowledge to finally do the work I'd once only dreamed about.

I forgot to post this yesterday! One of my biggest fears in life is heights, I absolutely hate them! So to challenge myself I have decided to take up rock climbing! It’s an awesome arm/back/shoulder/core workout and it makes me super uncomfortable! Yesterday was my second day at the climbing gym and boy am I sore today! I love trying new things and the feeling of conquering something that I never thought I would do fuels me! Grateful to have a friend that also pushes me to my limits!

@Gavin Dome What an absolute pleasure to get to chat with you and hear all about your goals and aspirations here in the Honest Cut. This is a guy that loves the grind, is looking to become more today than yesterday and is the epitome of the Honest Cut. Thanks for meeting with me! Onward and Upward! Give Gavin a nice warm welcome!