US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has sparked widespread derision after proposing that Americans struggling with the cost of living could eat a dinner consisting of a single piece of chicken and a piece of broccoli for around $3.
Backlash Over 'Depression Meal' Suggestion
Earlier this week, during an appearance on NewsNation, Rollins outlined an affordable meal plan aligned with new protein-focused dietary guidelines released by her department. She claimed extensive analysis showed a meal with chicken, broccoli, a corn tortilla, and one other item could cost roughly $3. "There is a way to do this that actually will save the average American consumer money," she stated.
The comments were swiftly mocked online, with critics labelling the suggestion a "depression meal" and comparing it to prison food. The controversy prompted Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo to question Rollins about the social media heat during a follow-up interview on Friday.
Rollins Defends Advice, Blames Political Opponents
In her defence, Secretary Rollins called the backlash "interesting" and suggested the criticism originated from political opponents. "The pushback is probably because the Left, the Democrats, don't have much more to say other than that," she argued.
She maintained that eating healthily could be cheaper than opting for processed alternatives. "Chicken, poultry, vegetables, fruits, when you eat healthy, it actually is less expensive... than if you buy a fast food meal or if you eat a bag of Doritos or chips and have an energy drink," Rollins told Bartiromo.
High Grocery Costs and SNAP Policy Changes
Rollins' advice comes despite persistently high grocery prices. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, while overall inflation held steady at 2.7 percent in December, specific food items saw sharp increases. Uncooked ground beef rose by 15.5 percent, and frozen fish and seafood were up 8.6 percent year-on-year.
During the interview, Rollins pointed to a Trump administration initiative requiring retailers who accept SNAP benefits (food stamps) to double their stock of healthy foods. This move affects approximately 250,000 retailers across the United States.
However, this policy follows the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which, according to the Congressional Budget Office, will cut nutritional funding—including the SNAP programme—by an estimated $186 billion through 2034.
