EXCLUSIVE: For a week, I ate like Health and Human Services secretary RFK Jr. and it took a massive toll on my body as I followed his very specific diet
13:32 ET, 06 Mar 2026Updated 13:48 ET, 06 Mar 2026
For a week, I ate like Health and Human Services secretary RFK Jr. and it took a massive toll on my body as I followed his very specific diet
Starting a new diet is never ever easy, especially when said diet seems to run counter to almost everything you ever eat.
This past week, I decided to undertake what I have dubbed the “RFK Jr. diet,” which consisted of meat, eggs, asparagus, green beans, mango slices, black tea, and, well… more meat. The Health and Human Services secretary revealed during an interview with USA Today’s The Excerpt that he is on a “carnivore diet” and doesn’t eat a single thing before noon.
However, when the clock does strike that lovely hour, the Trump official scarfs down four eggs and a few strips of bacon. It was then reported that the HHS secretary, who just turned 72, allows himself to enjoy a snack of peanuts or pistachios throughout the day, along with an hour at the gym.
READ MORE: ‘We ate Donald Trump’s 2,375 calorie meal — Now we’ll never look at McDonald’s the same’READ MORE: Trump’s disgusting McDonald’s order as he declares ‘war on saturated fats’
Reports show that Kennedy likes to have dinner on the earlier side (before 7 pm), and when he does, it’s a nice 12-oz Ribeye steak cooked rare. Previous research shows that intermittent fasting is supposed to promote mental clarity, weight loss and lower risk of serious diseases.
Some studies, however, said that fasting could lead to nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, and heart problems. Speaking on his diet to The Excerpt, Kennedy said, “This may not be right for other people, but I lost 40 percent of my visceral fat.”
“It was a really extraordinary benefit,” he added. “The way I feel, my mental clarity, my word retrieval. I had noticeable improvements.”
The Health and Human Services secretary revealed during an interview with USA Today’s The Excerpt that he is on a carnivore diet(Image: Getty Images)
Naturally, after consuming President Donald Trump’s McDonald’s order and surviving it, I knew I had to attempt the diet. So, with the repeated pleas from my editors not continue if I started to feel bad rattling around in my head, I started.
The Experiment
Right off the bat, I knew I was going to have a hard time with this. As someone who loves coffee and, admittedly, relies on it to get through the day, I knew that completing this challenge would take all the willpower and determination I possessed.
Kennedy’s diet consisting of eggs, meat, black tea, peanuts, pistachios, green beans and asparagus cost around $200 to eat for a solid week. (Image: Jack Hobbs)
Day one, I am not ashamed to say, felt like hell on earth. Throughout the day, my body repeatedly reminded me that I needed caffeine and food to even perform the simplest of functions.
Dear reader, as someone who used to keep a constant supply of protein bars and other snacks in their backpack, the first hours of this experience taught me to never underestimate what my partner brings home from work.
Finally, as the clock struck noon, I was able to push myself from the desk, muttering a “thank god, finally,” and warm up the eggs and bacon which I had cooked the night before.
When the clock does strikes noon, the Trump official scarfs down four eggs and a few strips of bacon before snacking on nut-based items. (Image: Jack Hobbs)
The rest of the day, which seemed to last forever given I was only allowed to drink black tea or water, passed without incident, despite a few jabs from my coworkers asking me how I was feeling, telling me I seemed quiet compared to my usual self, who is always down for a good yap session or even asking if I had caved and given up on the diet.
Things sadly took a turn as I got home from the gym. Having not imbibed coffee or a Diet Coke (something the president and I unfortunately have in common), my brain started to pound, and I felt like every move I made was like banging my head against a wall.
Dinner came early and as detailed above. While I attempted to find beef tallow, I was unable to and resigned to raiding my cabinet for anything that would let me consume the beef, which my partner said they could “still hear it mooing.”
Even before completing the challenge, I knew that this was going to be an epic challenge to my willpower(Image: Jack Hobbs)
I realize now, after completing the diet, that intermittent fasting is something I will probably never be able to attempt again. The biggest challenge, aside from getting my body regulated enough to stop the pounding headaches, was the constant “Do you want a snack or coffee?”
Don’t get me wrong, I was very grateful. By my god, it was hard not to say “yes.” As day 1 came to an end, I was seriously hard-pressed to keep myself on track with this diet.
Day two of following the diet presented the same challenges as the first one. I was tired, cranky, and very hungry. However, I remained steadfast in my pursuit of making it all seven days. During the second day, a friend told me that the “light in your eyes has gone out.”
In an attempt to have some fun during the challenge, I decided to work out like the HHS Secretary and wear jeans… which I do not recommend (Image: Jack Hobbs)
That quote pretty much summed up how those days went, with friends bringing snacks to game nights or pizza being ordered as I munched on my very rare steaks. By day three — the only day I actually felt like myself — the smell of cooking steak was enough to make me want to gag.
While I wish I could report that the next four days brought me to some high plain of thinking or maybe even saw a boost in energy to get several projects done, the truth is, that I spent of my time in some dehydrated and oh so close to losing my temper haze. Much of the time on the diet was just going through the motions of life and even once, wearing jeans to the gym in order to get the full RFK Jr. experience.
The Results
Dinner was the same every night, steak, asparagus and green beans(Image: Jack Hobbs)
I don’t want to sound dramatic, even though those who know me might say otherwise, but undergoing this challenge was possibly the hardest thing I have done. Going cold-turkey on several processed foods was a very rude awakening.
As I mentioned previously, there were several days when doing the bare minimum seemed to be difficult and I would be lights out by 9 p.m. every night. While getting more sleep felt great, the constant headache and grumbling stomach were not the best of companions.
While I joked that I never wanted to repeat the experience, it was nice to see that I dropped eight pounds during my time on the diet and this served as motivator I needed to keep going to the gym everyday. All in all, there definitely some mixed feelings about the whole process.
By day three — the only day I actually felt like myself — the smell of cooking steak was enought to make me want to gag.(Image: Jack Hobbs)
Parts of me thrilled to take part in it as I love pushing the boundaries of what I can and can’t do and the other never wants to revisit the gloomy, and dehydrated parts of it. One thing my entire being can agree on though, is that I don’t want eat,see, or smell a steak for at least two months.