HHS rolls out DEPEND program to push real food in school meals

In a press release dated August 26, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced the Developing Evidence for Programs to Ensure Nutrition for Development (DEPEND) initiative. The program, managed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health, is designed to help schools swap highly processed foods for real, nutrient-dense alternatives using rigorous scientific evidence.

Kennedy argued that taxpayer dollars should fund projects that improve child health rather than “DEI nonsense” or social experiments. The rollout comes after HHS trimmed its pediatric vaccine recommendations from 17 to 11, a change presented as giving parents more discretion. Kennedy’s messaging emphasizes “eat real food” and positions the effort as a counter to what he describes as left-wing media attacks. The announcement reflects the broader conservative push to reshape public-health policy under the current administration.