HHS Secretary Kennedy Launches 'Take Back Your Health' BBQ Tour

Kennedy visits Texas smokehouse as part of initiative to promote whole, nutrient-dense foods over ultra-processed diets.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently kicked off a 'national BBQ tour' as part of the 'Take Back Your Health' initiative, beginning with a visit to Terry Black's Barbecue in Austin, Texas. The tour is tied to the Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) effort, which aims to roll out new dietary guidelines focused on whole, minimally processed foods.

Why it matters

Kennedy's visit to the popular Texas smokehouse symbolizes a potential shift in US health policy, emphasizing 'real food' and challenging the dominance of ultra-processed diets. The initiative aims to revamp nutrition education in medical schools and improve food standards across the military and baby formula industries.

The details

During his visit, Kennedy expressed gratitude to Texas for leading the country in MAHA and spoke at an 'Eat Real Food' rally in Austin shortly after his barbecue stop. The HHS Secretary outlined plans to require 48 hours of dedicated nutrition training in medical schools and ensure 15% of medical exams focus on nutrition. Beyond medical education, Kennedy is pushing for changes in military meals and baby formula regulations to raise nutritional standards.

  • Kennedy recently launched the 'national BBQ tour' as part of the 'Take Back Your Health' initiative.
  • Kennedy visited Terry Black's Barbecue in Austin, Texas to kick off the tour.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health and Human Services Secretary who launched the 'Take Back Your Health' BBQ tour and 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) initiative.

Terry Black's Barbecue

A popular Texas smokehouse that Kennedy visited as part of the 'Take Back Your Health' tour.

Robert Irvine

A celebrity chef collaborating with Kennedy to improve food offerings on US military bases.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

An announcement regarding changes to medical school nutrition education could come as early as next week. The administration is also focused on supporting new dietary guidelines that prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods over ultra-processed alternatives.

The takeaway

Kennedy's visit to the Texas barbecue joint symbolizes a broader push to shift American diets away from ultra-processed foods and towards whole, minimally processed options. This initiative aims to address chronic health issues by revamping nutrition education, food standards, and public health campaigns.