The USDA is not our ally here. We have to take matters into our own hands, not only by advocating for a better diet for everyone - and that’s the hard part - but by improving our own. And that happens to be quite easy. Less meat, less junk, more plants.

Bittman argues that U.S. dietary guidance is structurally compromised by political and industry pressures, so meaningful change cannot rely solely on federal agencies like the USDA. He frames dietary reform as both collective (advocacy for healthier food systems and public policy) and personal (individual eating habits). The “hard part” is building broad social and political will; the “easy” part is adopting a straightforward pattern: reduce meat and ultra-processed “junk” foods and increase plant-based foods. The quote encapsulates his long-running critique of industrial food policy and his pragmatic, incremental approach to healthier, more sustainable eating.