Robert F Kennedy Jr launches his own MAHA cookery show
Move over, Martha Stewart! There is a new celebrity set to front their own cooking programme, and it just so happens to be Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The 72-year-old is no stranger to food discourse, having spearheaded the controversial ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) movement almost a year and a half ago.
During his reign, the environmental lawyer has helped overhaul diet advice, doing away with alcohol limits; put Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, on the so-called ‘sauerkraut diet’; discussed his obsession with the carnivore meal plan; and boldly claimed that the keto diet can cure schizophrenia.
Not one to rest on his laurels, RFK Jr. now plans to take a leaf out of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s book with his own celebrity cooking show, titled The Real Food Show.
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Inspired by the Trump administration’s MAHA movement, The Real Food Show will feature the father-of-six ‘cooking real food at affordable prices’, as per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
“Secretary Kennedy is bringing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to life and showing that cooking with real food can be practical, approachable, and affordable for every family,” the synopsis reads.
Each instalment of the programme is set to be ‘packed with affordable, budget-friendly recipes and easy cooking techniques designed to save you time and money’.
“Plus, you’ll get practical nutrition advice to help fuel your family, all while watching incredible special guests whip up their favourite healthy signature dishes right alongside Secretary Kennedy,” the site added.
Episode one, featuring California-based chef Andrew Gruel, is now live on YouTube, with him and Kennedy whipping up crispy salmon fish cakes with an apple, white bean and greens salad.
Speaking about the show, the politician proclaimed that cooking had become ‘a lost art’, with many American families opting to purchase fast-food items instead.
“Fast-food is not less expensive. That meal costs $12 to $14. People can eat a lot cheaper at home and a lot better food,” he alleged.
Kennedy and Gruel’s episode of The Real Food Show went live on Thursday (30 July), and fans and critics alike have already weighed in.
“This is a great idea for a proper Govt show!!! Living healthy should be an American thing!!!!,” one YouTube viewer commented.
A second said: “Well done, Real Food Show team. I loved the pacing and graphics, the facts plus the humor and teaching styles of Bobby and Andrew. Great first show!”
Meanwhile, another questioned: “Is taxpayer money funding this? How in the world did our ancestors feed themselves without the government telling them how to do so?”
“For people who are average Americans, we don't have a fancy kitchen like this, and the ingredients are NOT cheap!” someone else alleged.
Why RFK Jr.’s food pyramid recieved backlash
The Real Food Show serves as a vehicle for everyday Americans to understand the updated US dietary guidelines that were published in January.
The ten-page document saw experts discredit low-fat products and announce that children should not consume any amount of added sugar.
Citizens were informed that ‘oils with essential fatty acids’, such as beef tallow and butter, were ‘correct’ choices despite both being high in saturated fat.
“The new dietary guidelines call for prioritising high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains – and avoiding highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates,” a notice from the Department of Health and Human Services read.
The dietary guidelines accompanied the return of the US food pyramid.
The revamped design favoured red meats, such as steak and ground beef, and dairy items, including whole milk and full-fat yoghurt.
Grains and refined carbohydrates were placed near the bottom of the pyramid, meaning they should be consumed less than products with high saturated fat levels.
Naturally, controversy errupted, with many expers weighing in and questioning some of the food’s positioning in terms of importance.
Dr Anna Herby, nutrition education specialist for the Physicians Committee, warned that diets focused on meat and dairy can ‘increase risk of diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancers’.
“These new Guidelines will do very little to help Americans make healthier food choices," she explained.
Meanwhile, Debbie Millman, chair of the masters in branding program at the School of Visual Arts and the host of the podcast Design Matters, took aim at the visual aid’s design.
Writing for Stat News, she said that the pyramid’s emoji-inspired illustrations could’ve been lifted from a 1950s health pamphlet.
Meanwhile, nutritionist and women’s health coach Jessica Corwin said that she wasn’t convinced the product was ‘actionable for real people navigating busy lives, changing physiology, and limited time’.
Topics: Celebrity, Diet, TV and Film, Health
Ella Scott