Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has faced widespread ridicule after proposing what critics have labelled a 'depression meal' for Americans struggling with high food costs. The controversy erupted as the Trump administration unveiled a radical overhaul of national dietary advice, effectively turning the traditional food pyramid upside down.
New Guidelines and a Tone-Deaf Suggestion
The US Department of Agriculture, alongside the Department of Health and Human Services led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released new dietary guidelines on Wednesday, 15 January 2026. The recommendations advocate for increased consumption of protein, dairy, and healthy fats while reducing intake of whole grains. Both secretaries urged the public to simply 'eat real food'.
In a televised interview with News Nation, Secretary Rollins attempted to demonstrate how the new guidelines could be affordable. 'We've run over 1,000 simulations. It can cost around $3 a meal for a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla and one other thing,' she stated. Rollins argued this approach would save money for the average consumer.
Social Media Backlash and Economic Reality
A clip of her comments quickly spread online, drawing immediate and scornful reactions. Chasten Glezman Buttigieg, husband of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, sarcastically posted on X: 'Private jets and tax breaks for them and their rich friends, and one piece of broccoli *AND* a tortilla for you!'
Other prominent voices joined the criticism. Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth mocked the suggestion with 'One whole tortilla?!', while podcast host and Democratic congressional candidate Fred Wellman claimed, 'They hate so much of America. They just hate them.'
The backlash highlights a stark economic disconnect. Although inflation held steady at 2.7 percent in December, grocery prices remain painfully high. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows uncooked ground beef prices rose 15.5 percent year-on-year, with frozen fish and seafood up 8.6 percent.
Experts Criticise Guidelines' Blind Spot
Health experts have pointed out a fundamental flaw in the new guidelines: they ignore the socio-economic barriers to healthy eating. Professors Lauren Ball and Emily Burch, writing for The Independent, noted that 'access to affordable, healthy food remains limited across the US', particularly for low-income families and those in rural areas.
'People choose food based on whether it’s affordable, accessible and culturally relevant – but the guidelines overlooked these structural drivers,' they concluded. This critique underscores why Secretary Rollins' simplistic $3 meal proposal has been perceived as so deeply out of touch with the daily realities facing millions of Americans.
