Lifestyle

Thanksgiving 2025: How RFK Jr.’s Health Policies Will Transform Your Holiday Meal

By CM Chaney · November 27, 2025

Your traditional Thanksgiving feast is getting a significant makeover this year, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative reshapes how Americans approach food and nutrition. According to the MAHA Commission’s May 2025 report, dramatic changes to food regulations aim to address what Kennedy describes as a “chronic disease epidemic” affecting American families.

The New Turkey Talk

The centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal will look and taste noticeably different this year. Under MAHA guidelines, as reported by Food Safety Magazine, poultry producers have had to shift away from routine antibiotic use, resulting in birds that may appear smaller and less uniformly shaped than what consumers are used to. The focus is on what Kennedy calls “real food” - poultry raised without routine antibiotic use and processed minimally.

Perhaps the most controversial change involves cooking methods. Kennedy has publicly demonstrated deep-frying turkeys in beef tallow rather than vegetable oils, positioning traditional cooking fats as healthier than the processed seed oils that have dominated American kitchens for decades. However, the National Fire Protection Association continues to recommend against deep-frying turkeys altogether due to safety risks.

Side Dish Shake-Up

The most visible changes will be in your traditional side dishes. According to recent FDA guidance, manufacturers have been required to remove artificial colors and additives from many prepared foods. That vibrant red cranberry sauce? It’s taking on a more natural hue as manufacturers eliminate artificial dyes like Red No. 40.

Store-bought stuffing mixes are undergoing dramatic reformulation to meet new whole-food requirements. Rather than using commercial mixes loaded with preservatives and sodium, the MAHA framework encourages consumers to prepare stuffing from whole bread - ideally sourdough or other fermented varieties.

The Processed Food Pivot

The MAHA Commission has directed specific attention to ultra-processed foods, tasking the FDA with developing a standardized definition of what constitutes ultra-processing. According to HHS documents, ultra-processed foods are broadly understood as those containing industrial ingredients like hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, synthetic additives, and colorants designed to extend shelf life.

Many traditional Thanksgiving convenience foods fall into this category - instant mashed potatoes, canned gravy with thickeners, commercially prepared casseroles with cream soup bases, and packaged dinner rolls all qualify as ultra-processed. The MAHA movement advocates for replacing these with whole food alternatives that require actual cooking but deliver superior nutrition.

Navigating the Changes

For families concerned about these sweeping changes, experts recommend a balanced approach:

• Plan ahead: Many whole-food ingredients require longer preparation times

• Shop smart: Local farmers’ markets often offer better prices on MAHA-compliant produce

• Start small: Focus on upgrading key dishes rather than overhauling everything at once

• Consider costs: Invest in quality ingredients for the most important dishes while making strategic compromises on others

Looking Ahead

These changes represent more than just a one-holiday shift - they signal a fundamental transformation in how Americans approach food. While the transition may seem challenging, health experts quoted in the MAHA strategy document suggest these modifications could lead to more satisfying and nutritious holiday celebrations.

The removal of artificial colors represents one concrete area where change is already underway. The FDA has approved four new natural color alternatives and is fast-tracking approval of additional plant-based colorants. This means that familiar brands of canned vegetables, prepared casseroles, and other Thanksgiving staples will begin appearing with different coloring - greens may appear less artificially vivid, oranges may look more muted, and reds may shift toward deeper, more natural burgundies.

Remember: This year’s Thanksgiving isn’t about perfection - it’s about progress toward healthier traditions that can be passed down to future generations. While some changes may require adjustment, the MAHA initiative’s focus on whole foods and traditional cooking methods aims to deliver both improved nutrition and satisfying flavors to your holiday table.

(This content was created with the help of AI, and edited by a human.)