Robert F. Kennedy Jr., America's recently appointed health secretary with a mission to "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA), has sparked considerable interest in his personal health practices. He has been very vocal about his concerns regarding the nation's food system and the health of American children, championing state efforts to ban artificial dyes and additives, remove ultra-processed foods from school lunches, and make soda ineligible for food benefits. This article delves into the specifics of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s diet and lifestyle, drawing upon his own statements and observations of his habits.
A Glimpse into Kennedy's Dietary Preferences
Kennedy's dietary approach appears to be rooted in a rejection of processed foods and a preference for whole, natural options. He favors raw milk, full-fat dairy, and intermittent fasting, while expressing suspicion towards artificial food dyes and seed oils. He has stated that "sugar is poison" and abstains from alcohol entirely.
Intermittent Fasting
To demonstrate his commitment to health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shared that he practices intermittent fasting and limits his eating to an eight-hour window each day. He believes this approach gives his body adequate time to rest, process nutrients, and support his overall well-being. He typically has his first meal around noon and stops eating around six or seven in the evening.
Raw Milk and Full-Fat Dairy
According to a New York Times article from 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared that he had been exclusively drinking raw milk that year, highlighting his commitment to natural and unprocessed food choices. If you're wondering what raw milk is and if you should drink it, it is the milk that comes directly from the milked cow. Nothing else has to be done or added to the milk (besides storing it in the fridge perhaps). This is another clever health move on his part since dairy from grass fed sources has approximately 147% more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional dairy milk. Although some argue that drinking raw milk is unsafe due to the harmful bacteria that pasteurization typically eliminates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears to be alive and well despite it all.
Avoiding Processed Foods and Artificial Ingredients
One of the many things that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been very vocal about in his quest toward making America healthy again, is the use of artificial ingredients, including food dyes, which he says are very toxic and should be completely eliminated from America's food system. He would rather eat food that is not ultra-processed, which usually consists of food like fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and fish, grains and legumes, flour, nuts and seeds. Ultra processed foods are made from substances extracted from food and include artificial colors and preservatives. So instead of eating sweetened cereals for breakfast, Mr. Kennedy would likely replace them with a healthier alternative.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Saying No to Alcohol
For those that may be wondering what Robert F. Kennedy Jr typically drinks, it certainly is not alcohol. When Mr. Kennedy was younger, he struggled with heroin addiction from the time he was a teenager until he was about 29 years old. An incident at an airport while waiting for his flight to South Dakota led him to check himself into rehab and he has been sober since then. His sobriety journey includes eliminating all forms of alcohol from his diet. The mocktail is having a moment, however, and there are a wide variety of non-boozy beverages to help keep his mind off the temptation of sipping a cocktail at an event. If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Indulgences and Exceptions
While Kennedy generally adheres to a strict diet, he occasionally allows himself some indulgences.
Steak 'n Shake
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also enjoys eating from Steak 'n Shake ever since the restaurant made a commitment to fry all of its fries, chicken tenders and onion rings in beef tallow only. The health secretary was recently seen munching on a cheeseburger and fries from Steak 'n Shake during an exclusive interview with Fox News. In the interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentions that, ”Steak 'n Shake just switched out, and people are raving about these French fries - they taste amazing". It also looks like President Trump's call for radical transparency and his push to incentivize companies to swap traditional ingredients for beef tallow could be a big win for a brand like Steak 'n Shake - aligning perfectly with a return to classic, wholesome flavors that resonate with both nostalgia and health-conscious consumers like Mr. Kennedy.
Peter Luger Steakhouse
The iconic dry-aged steak from Brooklyn's Peter Luger steakhouse makes the cut on Robert F. Kennedy Jr's table. The backstory behind one of his visits to the famed steakhouse is a rather odd one too at that. In August 2024, it was reported that RFK Jr. had dined at the steakhouse a decade earlier following an afternoon of some falconry, a pastime he enjoys. Oh, he'd also dumped a dead bear carcass in Central Park earlier that day. Apparently, the bear cub had become roadkill and Kennedy contemplated taking it home to put in the freezer but then opted to dump it instead. While rather odd behavior, it apparently wasn't enough to derail a meal at Peter Luger. We can't speak to what sort of sides Kennedy enjoyed with this steak dinner, but the steakhouse is known for its onion rings and creamed spinach. Kennedy is hardly the first politician to grace its dining room.
Twinkies
Most people have that one snack that's their guilty pleasure, and for Mr. Kennedy, that used to be Twinkies. While some may wonder about the odd inspiration behind the Twinkie's name, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself questioning whether it was healthy for him. He stopped eating them when he took on a more serious approach toward his diet. Mr. Kennedy does not discourage people from eating Twinkies, he believes that a person's freedom of choice needs to be exercised from an informed point of view. In light of this, he was once quoted saying, "If you want to eat Twinkies, you ought to be able to eat 'em. Although Twinkies are undeniably delicious, they also contain very high amounts of sugar, flavorings that come from petroleum, 14 different chemicals, as well as chemical substitutes for eggs. Yikes. It's no wonder the health secretary has banned himself from consuming his once loved yummy snack.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Coke
Robert F. Kennedy Jr used to drink eight to nine cokes per day. You read that right. This likely meant he drank a Coke with nearly every meal and reached for another whenever he felt thirsty - leaving little to no room for water in his daily routine. Diet Coke might have eased our concerns just a little, but the fact that he was drinking the original, full-sugar version means he was consuming a significant amount of added sugar on a regular basis. Drinking too much Coke significantly increases one's risk of medical problems such as kidney failure, obesity, diabetes, increased blood pressure, and excess abdominal fats. However, his story did have a happy ending and he cut Coke out of his diet completely. Since his epiphany, Mr.
Kennedy's Fitness Routine
With a chiseled physique, it’s no surprise that RFK Jr. Even though he will be 70 years old in January of the coming year (2024), RFK Jr.
Daily Hiking
“I hike every day in the morning. I go to a meeting first thing in the morning-a 12-step meeting, and then I hike, and I hike uphill,” explains RFK Jr. when asked about his exercise routine. When expounding upon his fitness program, RFK Jr.
Gym Workouts
“Then I go to the gym. I go to the gym for 35 minutes. This means RFK Jr. “I do four different routines at the gym, and I never relax in the gym. I go in and have a very intense exercise (session),” explains Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “I lift. Although the specific weightlifting exercises RFK Jr. “My first set of everything, I try to reach failure at 12 reps. When evaluating Robert F.
Alignment with Health Guidelines
These guidelines recommend that adults accumulate either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio exercise per week and two full-body strength training workouts. The Department of Health and Human Services categorizes light-intensity activity as any activity that is 3.0 METs or less. Thus, Robert F. So, if he does his hike all seven days per week, RFK Jr.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Addressing Health Challenges
Kennedy has openly discussed past health challenges, including mercury poisoning and addiction, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and personal growth.
Mercury Poisoning
After suspecting that he had a brain tumor due to experiencing severe memory loss and mental fogginess in 2010, the health secretary discovered that he actually had a dead worm in his brain. However, it was later revealed that, while the dead worm was indeed present, the more likely cause of his cognitive issues was the extremely high levels of mercury he had unknowingly consumed from the unusually large quantities of tuna and perch he was eating during that period.
Tuna and perch contain large amounts of mercury and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was diagnosed with mercury poisoning. Mercury poisoning, especially from frequent consumption of large predatory fish like tuna and perch, is a well-documented health risk. High mercury levels in the body do lead to experiencing memory loss and struggling to concentrate - symptoms which are very consistent with what Mr. Kennedy had. Blood tests confirmed that his mercury levels were among the highest his doctors had seen, approximately 10 times the safe limit.
Today, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. enjoys seafood that has much lower levels of mercury in it such as cod fish. However, we're pretty sure that he eats it in moderation now especially after his experience with consuming too much tuna and perch. Also, since he had previous issues with memory loss, eating wild cod fish is beneficial for Mr. Kennedy as it not only aids in brain function, but also reduces the risk of heart disease. Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is also big on exercise, the protein found in wild cod fish is beneficial for him as it also supports muscles and tissues in the body. Whether the health secretary's wild cod fish is grilled with herbs or tossed into a hearty vegetable stew, it is a wholesome pick for someone who's clearly learned to prioritize wellness from the inside out. Wild cod fish may not be the flashiest fish out there, but it's a welcomed dinner option for Robert F.
Addiction and Sobriety
When Mr. Kennedy was younger, he struggled with heroin addiction from the time he was a teenager until he was about 29 years old. An incident at an airport while waiting for his flight to South Dakota led him to check himself into rehab and he has been sober since then. His sobriety journey includes eliminating all forms of alcohol from his diet.
Supplements and Anti-Aging Protocols
Robert F. “I take a lot of vitamins. I can’t even list them to you here because I couldn’t remember them all, but I take a ton of vitamins and nutrients, and then I’m on an anti-aging protocol from my doctor that includes testosterone replacement, but I don’t take any steroids-I don’t take any anabolic steroids or anything like that. In terms of natural, endogenous testosterone production, evidence suggests that testosterone levels decrease by about 1 to 2% per year after age 30.
The MAHA Movement and Dietary Guidelines
Secretaries Brooke Rollins and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., claim they want to “make Americans healthy again.” Yet, instead of leveraging one of the strongest tools available to improve public health-the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA)-they’re undermining it with misinformation.
Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS), informed by a panel of independent experts who conduct a rigorous review of the latest nutrition evidence. The Guidelines shape not just population dietary advice, but also federal nutrition programs that serve one in four Americans. They have the potential to significantly improve public health-if leaders follow the data, not disinformation.
As the next edition of the DGA is in development, the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement and the Secretaries have circulated misleading claims, suggesting that previous guidelines were shaped by “leftist ideologies” and “special interests.” A recent opinion piece by Nina Teicholz and Ty Beal is one example: Among other blatant misinformation about the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC) methods, the authors falsely suggest that the DGAC promotes refined grains, when in fact their report clearly recommends “mostly whole grains and lower refined grains.” A previous Teicholz op-ed blamed the DGA for our chronic disease epidemic and then went on to promote saturated fat, which is clearly linked to chronic disease. Such rhetoric erodes trust in the scientific consensus needed to promote healthier diets.
Barriers to Adherence-Not the Guidelines Themselves
Let’s be clear: As serious as the chronic disease epidemic is, the DGA cannot be the cause of this crisis when most Americans don’t follow the Guidelines. A 2024 systematic review found that greater adherence to the DGA-as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-is linked to lower mortality risk. Yet, the average HEI score for Americans is only 58 out of 100, indicating poor adherence.
Rather than blaming the DGA, the Secretaries should turn their attention to addressing the barriers that prevent Americans from eating a DGA-recommended diet. The latest numbers show that more than 36 million Americans live in poverty, and 13.5 percent of households experience food insecurity. While wages remain stagnant, food prices are rising (an issue certainly not relieved by this administration’s tariffs). Amidst this backdrop, this administration has proposed cuts to nutrition assistance and ended farm-to-school programs that help low-income Americans access the local, whole, healthy foods the Secretaries supposedly support.
The Dietary Guidelines Are Our Best Tool for Improving Nutrition
The DGA’s guidance-to eat diets higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and seafood, and lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, refined grains, and saturated fat-is not the problem. In fact, federal nutrition programs that are required to align their offerings with the DGA provide evidence of their positive impact. School meals are a great example: The 2015 DGA recommended limiting added sugars to less than 10 percent of calories daily, yet the 2020 DGAC found that 70-80 percent of children still exceeded this limit. As a result, the USDA introduced specific added sugars limits for school meals. These changes, fully in effect by 2027, build on the fact that school meals already have the highest nutritional quality compared to other food sources for children due to their alignment with the DGA.
The DGA process, both rigorous and transparent, is also not the problem. The DGAC includes a diverse group of independent experts, publicly nominated and vetted by USDA and HHS. Their multi-year review of scientific literature is based on publicly posted protocols, comments from multiple public meetings and the open comment period, and an external peer-review process. No individual member or industry determines the outcome of the DGAC’s report. Ironically, the least transparent phase is the one we’re currently in: when USDA and HHS staff draft the final guidelines based on the DGAC report. The Secretaries themselves could improve by committing to transparency and evidence-based recommendations. The DGA have remained generally consistent in their key recommendations since 1980, including advice to limit saturated fat. Far from outdated, the science linking saturated fat to cardiovascular disease has only strengthened.
Led purely by their analysis of this evidence base and not by political agenda, the 2025 DGAC supported a dietary pattern lower in red meat consumption and higher in plant-based foods, which contain less saturated fat and more health-promoting nutrients like fiber and folate than animal proteins. Replacing foods high in saturated fat-like red meat and butter-with whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and unsaturated fats is an evidence-based way to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.
CSPI Supports the DGA
The Secretaries have pledged that the DGA will be “based on sound science, not political science.” If that’s true, then the 2025 DGAC’s report, released in December, should be their guiding document. The Committee’s recommendations reflect the most rigorous and transparent scientific consensus available. If the MAHA movement and the Secretaries are serious about improving nutrition and public health, the path forward is clear: The Dietary Guidelines are not the enemy-they’re one of our strongest allies. Let’s use them.