HHS Secretary Kennedy Kicks Off 'Real Food' BBQ Tour in Austin

Kennedy visited Terry Black's Barbecue to promote 'real food' over ultra-processed diets

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. kicked off what he called a 'national BBQ tour' on Thursday with a stop at Terry Black's Barbecue in Austin. Kennedy has been promoting the idea that America's health problems start in the grocery aisle and that 'real food' should replace what he and his allies describe as an ultra-processed, additive-heavy diet.

Why it matters

As HHS Secretary, Kennedy has elevated the 'real food' message into a broader 'Make America Healthy Again' push that targets ultra-processed foods and additives as drivers of chronic disease. This tour is part of the administration's efforts to shift federal nutrition policy towards emphasizing 'real food' over highly processed alternatives.

The details

During his visit, Kennedy posted photos on social media of a piled-up barbecue spread at Terry Black's Barbecue, writing 'First stop on my national BBQ tour, I visited Terry Black's to EAT REAL FOOD.' The visit is part of Kennedy's long-running pitch that America's health problems start in the grocery aisle and that 'real food' should replace what he and his allies describe as an ultra-processed, additive-heavy diet.

  • Kennedy kicked off the 'national BBQ tour' on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has been promoting the idea that 'real food' should replace ultra-processed diets as a way to improve public health.

Terry Black's Barbecue

A popular barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas, where Kennedy visited to kick off his 'national BBQ tour' promoting 'real food'.

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What they’re saying

“First stop on my national BBQ tour, I visited Terry Black's to EAT REAL FOOD.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (Instagram)

What’s next

Kennedy plans to continue his 'national BBQ tour' to other cities in the coming weeks to further promote his 'real food' agenda.

The takeaway

As HHS Secretary, Kennedy is using this 'real food' BBQ tour to elevate the administration's broader push to shift federal nutrition policy away from ultra-processed foods and towards promoting whole, minimally processed ingredients as a way to improve public health outcomes.