Don't Let Dr. Oz Stop You From Enjoying Carrot Cake

The Problem with Food Shaming

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former physician and television host known for promoting unproven medical claims, recently appeared on Fox Business to discuss U.S. government programs that offer low-cost or no-cost health insurance for elderly people, low-income individuals, pregnant people, and those with disabilities. During the segment, he brought a carrot cake on air to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Medicare. However, his message was clear: even if people have access to these programs, they shouldn’t indulge in treats like carrot cake.

“We’ll be there for you, the American people, when you need help with Medicaid and Medicare, but you gotta stay healthy as well,” Oz insisted. “Do the most you can do to really live up to your God-given potential to live a full and healthy life. Don’t eat carrot cake. Eat real food.”

This statement sparked a strong reaction, especially from those who understand the complexities of food choices and socioeconomic challenges. As someone who bakes a lot of cakes and has a husband who loves carrots, I can confidently say that carrot cake is actually filled with “real” food. My recipe includes two cups of grated carrots, 3/4 cup of applesauce, and two cups of chopped pecans, along with raisins and sometimes pineapple. Between the vegetables, fruits, nuts, flour, and cream cheese in the frosting, it covers the entire food pyramid — something I’ve joked about before.

A History of Food Shaming

While it may seem odd for Oz to single out carrot cake, this kind of behavior is not uncommon in the United States. There’s a long history of food shaming, particularly when it comes to the choices made by people who are poor. For example, studies have shown that Medicaid-serving prenatal clinics often screen patients for alcohol consumption, leading to more scrutiny of their habits compared to more privileged patients whose doctors don’t ask similar questions. Similarly, researchers have found that WIC and Medicaid providers sometimes use children's diets as a proxy for judging whether parents are “good” or “bad,” forcing them to defend their food choices.

These practices are rooted in the idea that lower incomes are linked to diets that are lower in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and vitamins, and higher in processed meat and fast food. This can increase the risk of obesity, cancer, and heart disease, including for children, who make up about 40% of Medicaid recipients.

The Limits of Nutrition Education

Despite these concerns, shame and scrutiny aren’t always effective at changing people’s diets. Even nutrition education has its limits. In our survey research, Dr. Brea Perry and I found that socioeconomically disadvantaged parents are more likely to give in to their kids’ food requests than more advantaged parents. However, these differences aren’t explained by differences in nutritional knowledge, monitoring of diets, or the value placed on good health.

Instead, as Dr. Allison Pugh found in her observations and interviews with families, socioeconomically disadvantaged parents often give in to their kids' requests because they want to provide a little joy. These families typically can’t afford luxuries like vacations or college savings, and programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) come with asset limits, making it difficult for households to qualify if they have more than $2,750 in savings.

The Role of Treats in Low-Income Families

A recent survey showed that more than 40% of U.S. families with young children struggle to afford basic expenses such as utilities, food, housing, health care, and childcare. Despite these challenges, low-income parents don’t want their children to feel different or less than. They often turn to food treats, like a slice of cake after dinner, as an affordable way to help their children feel like “normal” kids.

In the same way I’ve recently found myself stress-eating homemade cookie dough to get through hard news days, there’s a good chance that if these low-income parents have a cake on hand, they’re cutting themselves a slice as a respite from the stress they face.

A Call for Compassion

Shame on Dr. Oz for suggesting that Medicaid and Medicare recipients should avoid even the most modest indulgences. Everyone deserves to enjoy their cake and eat it too. Especially when President Trump and his allies are putting the country on a metaphorical diet that falls so far short of meeting our basic needs.