The Biden Administration’s FDA recently wrapped up its term by releasing updated guidelines for "healthy-labeled" foods1 — a 300-page report that feels like a relic in an age of instant information. Today’s distracted consumer doesn’t have time to sift through dense nutritional guidelines. Even the FDA estimates fewer than 1% of Americans will try to follow these dietary recommendations. Clearly, we need a different approach.
Take restaurant menus as an example. Despite calorie counts being prominently displayed, 7-Eleven still sells plenty of Big Gulps (312 calories), The Cheesecake Factory’s signature dessert (830 calories) remains a bestseller, and Big Macs (563 calories) are still a fast-food staple. For most people, these numbers are abstract. Is 563 calories a lot or a little? It’s not just about knowing the facts—it’s about making those facts actionable.
Our eating habits are driven by more than just nutrition. Convenience, cost, and lack of time often take precedence. Though we may be learning about how bad ultra processed food is for us2, our meal selections rarely rest entirely on nutritional makeup. A $5 Happy Meal or a quick microwave dinner fits into the lifestyle of busy parents and time-strapped seniors far more easily than kale salads or lentil stews. For many, the idea of cooking for an hour feels like a luxury, not a realistic option.
And so we return to my favorite bone to pick. When you educate Americans on how to eat healthy; it goes in one ear and out the other. Give them healthy meals that will improve their nutrition and they will eat every gram on the plate. For decades, we’ve tried to educate Americans about healthy choices:
While well-intentioned, these campaigns have had limited success. Admonishments alone rarely lead to lasting behavior change. Consider the famous "This is your brain on drugs" PSA—memorable, yes, but did it stop substance abuse? Not so much.
The statistics speak for themselves: nearly 60 million Americans are pre-diabetic, and 42% of adults are overweight or obese. These issues start early, with many children rejecting healthy cafeteria options like apples (80% of whole fruits go uneaten, according to studies3) in favor of sugary, processed foods. The system isn’t just flawed; it’s fundamentally misaligned with how people make choices.
At Healthrageous, we believe the solution lies in making healthy choices easy. Instead of simply telling people how to eat better, we deliver healthy, ready-to-eat meals tailored to their needs. These “medically tailored” meals reduce salt and sugar intake without sacrificing taste, helping customers transition to a healthier diet without the burden of planning, label-reading, or cooking.
Our approach is incremental. The first three shipments of 42 microwavable meals focus on reshaping palates. Once healthier eating habits are established, we introduce self-prepared meals and recipes that make cooking approachable and satisfying. Convenience remains key—because even the healthiest plan fails when we can't find enough hours in the day.
The FDA’s well-meaning effort to educate seniors on how to read and comprehend labels when strolling down the grocery aisle is a noble endeavor that will fail to move the needle. Instead, innovative solutions from health plans partnering with organizations like Healthrageous are needed to translate these ideals into actionable steps. By providing ready-to-eat meals and practical guidance, we can make healthy living accessible—not just aspirational.
If we truly want to improve public health, we need to move beyond education alone. Let’s focus on giving people the tools—and the meals—they need to thrive. It’s time for a fresh approach to Making Americans Healthy Again.
1FDA Proposes Requiring At-a-Glance Nutrition Information
2What doctors wish patients knew about ultraprocessed foods
3Fruit and Vegetable Plate Waste Among Students
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