Here's Why Donald Trump's Doctor Had To Hide Vegetables In His Food
"If elected, Mr. Trump ... will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency," Dr. Harold N. Bornstein wrote in 2015. He later claimed that he'd written the letter in five minutes and that President Trump had dictated to him (via The New York Times and BBC). It's hard to avoid feeling like President Donald Trump's personal health has gotten almost as much high-profile news coverage as most domestic issues involving the Trump administration.
We know, for example, that Trump has taken rosuvastatin to lower his cholesterol and other lipids. In 2018, CNN's doctor, Sanjay Gupta, diagnosed President Trump with a "common form of heart disease." Back then, the President weighed 239 pounds and told Reuters, "I mean I walk... I run over to a building next door. I get more exercise than people think." But what about his favorite foods? According to former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, the president lived off of "McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, pizza, and Diet Coke" (via Business Insider).
In 2018, President Trump's health was in the hands of Dr. Ronny Jackson, who — despite raving about the president's "incredible genes" — had a weight loss plan in place for Trump (via The New York Times). The White House secretary later confirmed to CNN that the president had "received a diet and exercise plan" but that "he ha[d] not followed it religiously." The one thing that Jackson did achieve? "Putting cauliflower into the mashed potatoes."
Why Dr. Ronny Jackson hid cauliflowers in Trump's food
In 2018, President Trump told Reuters that he thought the White House kitchen could cut down on portion sizes and fattening ingredients. We don't know if they did. And despite the fact that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told The New York Post in April 2020 that his "biggest concern ... is making sure he gets some time to get a quick bite to eat," Trump has gained weight since 2018. In 2019, in the face of former White House doctor, Ronny Jackson's, efforts, President Donald Trump clocked in at 243 pounds (via CNN). He'd also upped his daily dose of cholesterol-reducing rosuvastatin. By June 2020, Trump had gained an additional pound, weighing in at 244 pounds (via CNN).
Are the White House staff still mixing cauliflower into the President's mashed potatoes? It's hard to tell. Dr. Ronny Jackson, of course, is no longer in the White House. But if his vegetable-hiding tactics are still in use, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Cauliflower is high in fiber, B-vitamins, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. These nutrients, in turn, can protect the body against cancer, help weight loss and digestion, boost memory, and decrease the risk of obesity, and heart disease (via Medical News Today).
How to hide cauliflower in mashed potatoes like Dr. Jackson did for President Trump
If you have a picky family member and want to hide cauliflower in your mashed potatoes, "à la Trump," it's easy! The Chic Life recommends that you use equal portions cauliflower and potatoes in the preparation. Just boil your potatoes together with your cauliflowers until fork tender. You'll have to add your cauliflower with about seven minutes of cook-time to go because they cook faster. Then, have at the tender vegetables just like you would if you were mashing only potatoes. Add butter, milk (or cream if you prefer), salt, and pepper, and mash! Use an electric mixer if you like your mashed potatoes on the smoother side. Otherwise, a fork or a manual masher will do.
We're not sure what Trump's chefs added to his, but Fifteen Spatulas recommends adding garlic, scallions, cheese, and chives. That's it. Dig in!