Why MAHA Might Need an Exercise Prescription Ditch the D.I.E.T., Manage the Munchies
By Richard W. Schmidt, RDN
What if the biggest mistake in America’s nutrition debate isn’t the food… but the strategy?
The movement to Make America Healthy Again is pushing an important message: Americans need to eat better and rely less on highly processed foods.
That’s a powerful goal—and one I fully support.
But here’s the question almost no one is asking:
What happens when people can’t actually follow the plan?
Because telling Americans to suddenly eliminate highly processed foods is a bit like telling someone living in Florida to avoid sunshine.
Technically possible…
but very hard to do.
And if health strategies aren’t realistic, people don’t follow them. When people don’t follow them, they fail. And when they fail often enough, they stop trying altogether.
So maybe the real question is this:
What if managing calories—not eliminating foods—is the more practical way to Make America Healthy Again?
The Cold Turkey Challenge
A major theme in the MAHA discussion is cutting out highly processed foods.
On paper, it sounds like the perfect solution.
In reality? Most Americans live in a 24-hour snack environment.
Calories are everywhere—grocery stores, drive-thrus, restaurants, vending machines, delivery apps, gas stations, office break rooms, and convenience stores.
Temptation follows us everywhere.
Trying to eliminate all highly processed foods in 2026 is incredibly difficult.
Back in the 1960s, things were different. Food choices were limited. Fast food was rare. Restaurants were occasional outings, not everyday options.
And people moved more because they had to.
Gyms were rare. Home exercise equipment was almost nonexistent. If you needed to go somewhere, you often walked.
Today?
We drive everywhere—and the calories meet us when we get there.
The Real Diet Problem
Now let’s talk about a word that frustrates millions of people:
Diet.
How often do you hear someone say, “I’m trying a new diet.”
Trying.
Not starting a new lifestyle.
Not making permanent changes.
Just… trying.
After hearing this for decades, I created an acronym that captures the typical experience:
D.I.E.T. = Delightful Improvements Except Temporary
Sound familiar?
Week one of a diet is exciting. The scale drops quickly, mostly from water loss.
Week two arrives… and reality sets in.
Weight loss slows down. Motivation fades. Soon the diet joins the long list of “things that didn’t work.”
Even when weight loss is perfectly normal—one to two pounds per week—people often feel disappointed. Many expect rapid results with very little effort.
Exercise may start for a week or two, usually walking.
But when the diet ends, the walking ends too.
A Better Meaning for D.I.E.T.
What if we changed the meaning entirely?
Here’s the version I prefer:
D.I.E.T. = Determined Individual Expecting Transformation
That’s not a temporary plan.
That’s a mindset.
Instead of chasing diet trends, people learn how to manage food in a calorie-dense world.
Don’t Ditch the Munchies—Manage Them
One of the biggest myths in weight management is that you must eliminate all “bad” foods.
Good luck with that.
In today’s food environment, it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate highly processed foods.
And honestly, most people don’t want to.
The smarter strategy is management, not elimination.
That’s why I developed a practical tracking approach using an Excel program I call the Portion Permission System. It helps people objectively measure portions and protect their weight-loss progress.
Yes, you can still enjoy treats.
Yes, you can occasionally eat highly processed foods.
And yes—you can still lose weight and improve your health.
Where MAHA Could Become Even Stronger
Here’s where the MAHA conversation could evolve.
Instead of focusing only on eliminating certain foods, we should also focus on balancing calories with movement.
I call this an Exercise Prescription.
Personally, I follow what I describe as an Exercise Prescription of 75,000 calories—a structured way to use physical activity to help manage the calories we inevitably consume.
Exercise isn’t punishment for eating.
It’s metabolic flexibility.
When people combine portion awareness with consistent activity, something powerful happens: the occasional brownie, slice of pizza, or handful of chips fits into the plan without guilt.
As I often say:
You can have your cake and eat it too… if you plan for it.
A Dietitian Who Gets It
As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who has spent decades helping people lose weight—and now at 69 years old feeling more fit than I did in my fifties—I understand the real-world struggle.
Weight management today is harder than it used to be. Our food environment has changed dramatically.
But the answer isn’t another miracle diet.
The answer is becoming a Determined Individual Expecting Transformation.
And perhaps the next evolution of the Make America Healthy Again conversation is this:
Not just telling people what not to eat…
…but giving them the tools to balance what they do eat.
Because in today’s calorie-packed world, the smartest strategy may not be eliminating every munchie.
It may be learning how to manage them.
And remember:
You still can’t outrun that brownie…
…but with the right plan, you can absolutely schedule it into your Exercise Prescription. 🍫🏃♂️
You can explore my approach in more detail in You Can’t Outrun That Brownie, or continue learning through the resources and articles available on my website.
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About the Author
Richard W. Schmidt, RDN, is the author of You Can’t Outrun That Brownie and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who lost over 30 pounds in his fifties and has maintained that loss for more than 15 years. He teaches sustainable weight loss through portion control, frequency awareness, and structured annual exercise prescriptions.
