The September 2025 MAHA Commission Strategy Report outlines a clear and ambitious vision: to subsidize nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods from American farmers while reducing reliance on UPFs in federal programs, such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and SNAP. By prioritizing real food over industrial formulations, MAHA is empowering schools to serve meals that fuel growing bodies and young minds—not just fill their stomachs. Early results from state-level pilots, including Rhode Island's MOSHA initiatives, show this approach is not only feasible but already delivering measurable wins.
Childhood obesity is one of America's most urgent public health challenges. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 21.1% of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2–19 were obese in 2021–2023—up from 19.3% just a few years prior. That's 15.7 million children at risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and lifelong health struggles. The numbers are even more stark in underserved communities: 23.5% of non-Hispanic Black children and 22.2% of Hispanic children are obese, compared to 13.2% of non-Hispanic White children.
Ultra-processed foods are a significant contributor to this issue. A landmark NIH study found that people eating a UPF-heavy diet consumed 500 more calories per day than those on whole-food diets—leading to rapid weight gain. Children, whose brains are still developing, are especially vulnerable. UPFs hijack reward pathways, making it harder for kids to feel full or choose healthier options. In fact, up to 64% of calories in school lunches come from ultra-processed sources. MAHA recognizes this as a national emergency and is taking decisive action to combat it.
The MAHA report doesn't just diagnose the problem; it offers a practical, scalable solution: redirecting federal subsidies from industrial ingredients to whole, American-grown foods. Here's how it works:
• NSLP Overhaul: Schools that meet whole-food benchmarks (e.g., fresh produce, lean proteins, whole grains) receive higher reimbursements—up to $4.65 per lunch.
• Farm-to-School Expansion: USDA waivers make it easier for schools to buy directly from local farmers, cutting out middlemen and ensuring freshness.
• SNAP Reform: Benefits shift away from soda and candy toward MAHA Boxes—pre-portioned kits of oats, nuts, eggs, and seasonal vegetables.
• Dietary Guidelines Update: The 2025 guidelines will define UPFs clearly and prioritize whole foods, giving schools a science-backed roadmap.
This isn't about banning flavor; it is about restoring real taste. Children who grow up eating apples, carrots, and grilled chicken tend to develop palates that prefer real food. And when subsidies make these options affordable, schools can serve them without breaking the bank.
Rhode Island is already leading the way with its Make Our State Healthy Again (MOSHA) program—a state-level partner to MAHA's national vision. Since 2018, Farm Fresh Rhode Island has connected over 50 schools to local farms, delivering 200,000 pounds of produce annually.
In Providence and Cranston pilot districts, early MOSHA interventions have:
• Reduced UPF reliance by 20%
• Cut tray waste by 15% (kids actually eat the food)
• Improved student focus and behavior, per teacher reports
These results align with national trends, as a BMJ simulation projects that cutting school UPFs in half could prevent 4 million obesity cases by 2035. This shows that MAHA is not just helping students, it's revitalizing American agriculture. By streamlining organic certification and supporting mobile grocers and farm co-ops, the initiative makes it easier for small and mid-sized farmers to supply schools. This creates a virtuous cycle:
• Farmers earn fair prices
• Kids get fresher, tastier food
• Rural economies grow
Nebraska's recent SNAP waiver, which bans soda purchases, is already redirecting millions of dollars toward local producers. And 35% of the food industry, including Hershey's, has pledged to phase out artificial dyes, demonstrating that MAHA's leadership is driving market change.
Changing school lunch is about more than policy—it's about culture. MAHA encourages student gardens, cooking classes, and taste tests to get kids excited about real food. When children plant tomatoes or make salads with their peers, they are not just eating better; they are taking ownership of their health. The hyper-palatable grip of UPFs is beginning to loosen, not through force, but through better options for our children and their education.
MAHA's war on ultra-processed snacks isn't about deprivation. It's about abundance—abundant nutrients, flavors, and opportunities for kids to thrive.
With 30 million children eating school lunch daily, the NSLP is the largest restaurant chain in America, and MAHA is turning it into the healthiest one.
By 2030, thanks to whole-food subsidies and state-level leadership like Rhode Island's MOSHA pilots, we could see:
• Childhood obesity below 15%
• Billions saved in healthcare costs
• A generation that chooses real food because it tastes better
This is what Make America Healthy Again looks like in action: not ideology, but results. Thanks to MAHA, it's time for real food.
