RFK Jr. Kicks Off “National Barbecue Tour” in Austin

This week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched what he dubbed his “National Barbecue Tour,” with a notable visit to Terry Black’s Barbecue in Austin, Texas. He took to social media on Thursday to share, “First stop on my national barbecue tour, I visited Terry Black’s to eat some real food.”

Terry Black’s Barbecue, known for its five locations in Texas and one in Nashville, is a staple in the region, often featured in Texas Monthly’s annual ranking of the top barbecue spots.

This visit coincided with President Kennedy’s ongoing “Regain Health” national tour, which, interestingly, aligns with new dietary recommendations for Americans pushed by the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

During this trip, President Kennedy was also set to address the Eat Real Food gathering later that same day. He expressed gratitude towards Texas for its role in leading the MAHA movement.

In his speech, he highlighted essential changes in nutrition education within medical schools, military diets, and infant formula regulations. An announcement regarding a new “48-hour nutrition course” for medical schools may come soon, and Kennedy is discussing allocating 15% of medical tests to focus on nutrition.

Additionally, he mentioned celebrity chef Robert Irvine’s efforts to improve food offerings on U.S. military bases. “He’s already been on five bases and will expand to 20 by the end of the month,” Kennedy noted.

The rally, organized by MAHA Action, aimed to promote whole foods over processed alternatives. The event’s purpose was to support the government’s new dietary guidelines, introduced recently.

Kennedy, who has often voiced concerns about the adverse effects of a heavily processed diet, remarked earlier this month to ranchers in Nashville that “the protein wars are over,” reinforcing beef’s return to American diets and commending ranchers for their contribution to nutritious food.

Interestingly, Kennedy adheres to a meat-based diet, mainly consisting of steak and fermented foods. He claims that this shift helped him lose 20 pounds in just 20 days and reduce visceral fat. However, some medical experts caution that extreme diets might not suit everyone.

Terry Black’s Barbecue, founded in 2014, aims to celebrate the flavors of Central Texas, honoring the legacy of its namesake.