As a registered dietitian, my career has been focused on helping families improve their health through better nutrition. That’s why I’m encouraged by the efforts of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which aims to reverse the rising rates of chronic diseases among children.
Improving children’s health requires addressing a range of factors, and we must focus on the basics: access to nutritious food, regular physical activity, safe living environments, and adequate sleep. These are well-established, science-backed elements that contribute to childhood well-being.
As a dietitian, my primary concern is nutrition, but that doesn’t just mean the nutrients in our food — it’s about ensuring that families can actually access healthy food. Early discussions surrounding the use of pesticides raised concerns for me, not because we shouldn’t ask questions, but because they suggested that our produce is unsafe. This narrative doesn’t reflect the reality. In fact, modern agriculture, including the responsible use of pesticides, plays a crucial role in making healthy food affordable and widely available. Without it, we risk higher food prices, increased food insecurity, and poorer health outcomes for children.
It’s important to note that pesticide use is already tightly regulated by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both of which enforce strict safety standards based on the latest scientific research. When used correctly, pesticide residues in food are well below levels that could pose any health risks.
If we allow fear-driven misinformation to overshadow science, we’ll see negative consequences. Families might avoid fresh produce, food prices could climb, and children will ultimately suffer. A healthier nation is one where every family has access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. We cannot achieve this goal if we allow myths and misunderstandings about food production to spread unchecked.
I urge the MAHA Commission to take a balanced, science-based approach. This means engaging with experts like registered dietitians, farmers, crop scientists, and public health professionals both inside and outside of government.
We all share the goal of raising healthier children, but we cannot achieve this by getting the science wrong. To make America truly healthy again, the policies we support must serve the needs of families and children. If the MAHA Commission follows this evidence-based path, I am confident we can tackle health challenges and improve the health outcomes for our children.
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