FoodMinds analyzed 40 years of US Dietary Guidelines documents and found: 1) Word counts in the guidelines increased substantially over time, from 3,159 words in 1980 to over 50,000 words in recent editions. 2) "Patterns" became the most common word in 2015, representing a historic shift to emphasizing overall healthy eating patterns rather than individual foods/nutrients. 3) The emphasis on balance and moderation has declined over the years.