Dr. Ben Carson, President Donald Trump's nutrition advisor, humorously suggested that children could eat food fresh from the ground during an event promoting nutritious school meals from local farmers on Monday. A dog barked in the audience as Carson mentioned hot dogs, drawing laughter from attendees.
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Carson emphasized the importance of educating kids about food sources, recalling a visit to a school where children were surprised by the taste of whole milk. He explained that introducing them to fresh produce could create a better understanding of farming and nutrition. "They get an opportunity to eat a tomato fresh off the vine. It's a different food than you get in the store, quite frankly. Fresh sweet corn...and hot dogs," he said.
As the national advisor for nutrition, health, and housing at the Department of Agriculture since September, Carson has been part of the Trump administration's initiative aimed at improving children's diets. This effort, known as the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, criticizes the prevalence of ultra-processed foods.
The event also supported the "Harvest to Hallways" initiative, which includes a $50 million investment in school cafeterias to enhance the availability of locally grown foods. Despite these efforts, many families face escalating grocery prices, with packed lunches costing over $6.
While some school districts provide free or reduced-price meals, changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the Trump administration have reduced the number of children who automatically qualify for such assistance. Carson's comments regarding hot dogs were later clarified to indicate they were made in jest.