Secretary Kennedy Champions Dietary Guidelines During Austin Stop on ‘Take Back Your Health’ Tour

AUSTIN, TX—FEBRUARY 27, 2026—Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. continued his nationwide Take Back Your Health tour in Austin this week, headlining an “Eat Real Food” rally and visiting Cunningham Elementary School to highlight the importance of nutritious school meals and the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

On February 26, more than 600 people packed the Brazos Center to hear Secretary Kennedy deliver keynote remarks at a MAHA Action “Eat Real Food” rally focused on restoring real, nutrient-dense food to the center of the American diet.

“Real food is the foundation of public health, and under President Trump’s leadership we are putting it back at the center of the American plate,” said Secretary Kennedy. “Texas is helping drive Make America Healthy Again as we overhaul a broken food system and put our children’s health first.”

Other speakers at the event included MAHA Holdings CEO Alex Hardy, National Design Studio Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, Jr., HumanCo founder Jason Karp, White House Senior Advisor Calley Means, and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15).

“South Texans know what real food looks like: fresh ingredients, raised and grown with care, made with love and passed down through generations. That is why Secretary Kennedy’s new Food Pyramid is such a milestone,” said Congresswoman De La Cruz. “For the first time in decades, real, nutrient-dense food is back at the center of the American plate — where it belongs. Our children deserve real food that gives them the nourishment they need to sharpen their minds and energy to learn and grow. I am proud to stand with the Trump administration in making the health of American families a national priority.”

On February 27, Secretary Kennedy visited Cunningham Elementary in Austin ISD to see firsthand how the school emphasizes healthy meals for students. The Secretary toured the school’s cafeteria and Emeril Lagasse Teaching Kitchen, observed scratch-cooking practices and ingredient sourcing, and discussed menu development focused on whole foods and balanced nutrition with educators and school administrators.

At the serving line, Secretary Kennedy served steamed broccoli to third-grade students before joining them in the cafeteria to discuss healthy eating habits and the importance of nutritious school meals.

“Our team was incredibly proud of this opportunity to welcome Secretary Kennedy to Cunningham Elementary to see school meal service in action,” said Ryan Mikolaycik, Executive Director Food Service & Warehouse Operations at Cunningham Elementary. “It was meaningful to share how our kitchen teams prepare fresh, real food each day, connect with our student diners, and demonstrate the impact that nutritious, thoughtfully prepared meals have on student success and wellbeing. We’re proud of the work happening in our cafeterias and grateful for the chance to highlight it.”

“Thank you, Principal Foss, Ryan Mikolaycik, and everyone at Cunningham Elementary, for welcoming me and for encouraging your students to Eat Real Food,” said Secretary Kennedy. “When schools serve real food, they teach healthy habits, prevent diet-related disease, and give children the fuel they need to grow and thrive. Schools shape how the next generation understands nutrition, and Cunningham Elementary is leading the way.”

While in Austin, Secretary Kennedy also recorded episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “The Skinny Confidential” podcast to further expand the national conversation about chronic disease prevention, food policy reform, and President Trump’s directive to Make America Healthy Again.