By Dr. Stacie Stephenson
You’ve probably seen it in the news—MAHA, or Make America Healthy Again, the new political slogan and initiative spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’ve seen a lot of misinformation about this program, so I decided to find out for myself what it’s all about.
Both the statement to establish the MAHA commission and the MAHA Report are available on whitehouse.gov or anyone to read. I am aware of the controversy around these documents, including some problems with references, but what interests me is the overarching message: Our country is in a health crisis, our life expectancy is below that of other developed countries, our children are not doing well and we need to do something about it. We urgently need to transform the direction of America’s commitment to health, for all of us, but especially for our kids.
So what does the report say, and what is being done about it so far? The report takes a distinctly functional-medicine tone, as it talks about the important influence of lifestyle on health, a goal of wellness, and looking to root causes of disease rather than focusing on sickness and symptoms. This is enlightened thinking in a country with a sick-care system and high rates of chronic disease. What I like even more is that children are the primary focus of the first wave of actions, and the initial focus is fourfold: The campaign aims to address 1) poor diet, 2) exposure to environmental chemicals, 3) lack of physical activity and chronic stress, and 4) overmedicalization, as they relate to our children.
From what I have observed, the first big moves are to address poor diet, and those are centered around the biggest threat to public health, in my opinion, that we face today: the extreme prevalence of ultra-processed foods. These are packaged foods high in refined grains, refined sugars and highly processed fats, which are also frequently heavily loaded with preservatives, artificial coloring and artificial flavoring. In other words, what we often refer to as “junk food” is taking over the food system, and makes up most of what our children are eating. That, to me, is truly disturbing.
We all know there is too much ultra-processed food that is too easily available—around 70 percent of the branded products in grocery stores are now ultra-processed. The problem is knowing how to do something about it, especially when children become addicted to these foods and resist eating wholesome, unadulterated foods. It is all too easy to follow the path of least resistance, but the effort to train (or retrain) our children’s palates to appreciate real food is well worth the effort.
Here’s why: We know that ultra-processed foods (especially processed meats and soft drinks) are related to a shorter lifespan and higher chronic disease risks (including diabetes, obesity, cancer, mental health issues, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems and respiratory problems). We also know that ultra-processed foods hijack the reward system in the brain, contributing to obesity and other metabolic issues in children, and that diets high in refined sugar are correlated with higher incidence of ADHD in children. Ultra-processed food has also been linked to larger waist circumference, higher blood sugar and lower HDL cholesterol (the good kind) in preschool children, and to a decrease in physical activity and a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease in our kids.
What is being done about all of this? One of the first projects is to phase out eight petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply. Many companies are already on board, and it shouldn’t be impossible, since other countries (including many European countries) already do not allow synthetic food dyes or their use is restricted. Large international food companies sell the same products in those countries that we have here, but with natural colorings instead of synthetic dyes. I’m happy to see this movement because there is a lot of research linking behavioral problems in children with food dye exposure. Just look at all the brightly colored cereals, candy, and other treats that so many children eat. Those colors aren’t found in natural foods. Those are chemicals making that candy look so shiny and irresistible.
There are also plans to initiate the enactment of laws to more clearly label and disclose the presence of additives, and work is being done on banning additional additives from the food supply. I look forward to seeing more of this actually happening. Some movement already achieved or in progress includes:
A senate bill in Texas establishing health and nutrition standards, including food-labeling requirements, nutrition education in primary and secondary schools, and better health education for health professionals;
A new law in Arizona called the Arizona Healthy Schools Act, banning ultra-processed foods containing certain additives and dyes from school lunches.
This is all good progress toward the grand goal of improving our food supply for both children and adults, but you don’t have to wait until a law is passed in your state to start phasing out ultra-processed foods and introducing more whole foods into your family’s diet.
Make Your Family Healthy Again
It’s not rocket science. Real, whole food is healthier for our bodies and can protect us from chronic diseases, rather than increasing our risks. Still, obvious as it may sound, researchers continue to work to prove it to us. The research is overwhelming and conclusive: When we eat mostly vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fresh seafood and lean protein, while avoiding refined foods like refined grains, sugars and oils, we will be healthier.
Plant foods in particular are filled with vitamins and minerals as well as natural compounds that protect against inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, isothiocyanates, lignans, phytosterols, and stilbenoids. They contain dietary fiber that reduces heart disease risk, helps to prevent diabetes by improving blood sugar control and helps to improve digestion. Seafood contains the healthy fats that improve heart health and increase HDL cholesterol, the protective kind. Lean meat provides protein and minerals for building muscles and bones. For those millions who already have a chronic disease, whole foods can lead to significant improvements in metabolic function, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol.
Most importantly of all, a mostly whole-food diet can transform the health of children. When children have healthier diets, they have better skin, teeth, eyes, muscles and body weight. They have stronger bones, better brain development, better growth, stronger immunity and better digestion. A 2025 study in children with ADHD showed that whole-food diets can improve cognitive function. Nutrient-rich diets are also linked to fewer mental health issues, better memory, better attention and better problem-solving. Good food builds good brains.
And guess what has the most influence on what children eat? What their parents eat. How children learn to eat when young often persists into adulthood, and years of poor dietary habits can lead to higher chronic disease risks, such as a much higher risk of developing obesity and Type 2 diabetes. When parents have good dietary habits, so do their children. More than anything else, family meals contribute to how a child will eat for the rest of their lives.
If you have young children, this is your chance to make a real difference. Your choices will set up your children’s nutrition patterns for life. So what will you eat? What will you model? And what will you serve your family? I suggest going back to basics. Forget ultra-processed food. I don’t consider it food at all, and recommend keeping it out of your home. Eat real, whole food: fruit over candy, fresh veggies over fried, fresh meat and seafood over processed and cured meat; nuts and seeds over chips and pretzels; whole grains over refined. If your kids eat dairy, look for organic milk if possible, and unsweetened yogurt with fruit for sweetness.
I’ve found that before their taste buds become adulterated by ultra-processed food, most kids really love to eat whole foods. Their bodies recognize what is real and wholesome. Then, if they do eat some processed food outside the home once in a while, they will have the health and resilience to handle it.
If you have poor dietary habits, all this might be challenging at first, but anyone can choose to make better nutritional choices. You can do this—if not for yourself, then for your kids, and their future lives and their future children.
We can change the tide, right in our own kitchens. Why not start with your next trip to the grocery store? You can make different choices and lead your whole family into a more vibrant future. drstaciestephenson.com