I GOT QUOTED IN AN ARTICLE 😎

And it brings up something bigger than just one brand.

You may have seen the recent conversation around Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dunkin'.​

The question RFK Jr. raised was simple:

Are ultra-sugary coffee drinks actually appropriate for teenagers?

And instead of having a grounded, nutrition-based conversation, the response quickly turned into defending the brand.

Let’s take the politics out of it for a second…

This isn’t about who said it - it’s about whether it’s true.

And from a nutrition standpoint… this is very basic.

Here’s my quote from the article:

What’s actually going on here

If you look at the ingredient lists in Dunkin' products, you’ll often see:

• High fructose corn syrup
• Dextrose
• Maltodextrin

All in the same drink.

This isn’t just “a little sugar”…

This is multiple fast-absorbing sugars combined together, creating a bigger metabolic hit. It causes:

• Rapid spike in blood sugar
• Larger insulin response
• Followed by a crash
• Increased hunger + cravings

If this pattern is repeated enough, it starts to shift metabolism in a dangerous way.

Why this matters for teenagers

Teenagers are still developing metabolically and hormonally.

What becomes “normal” during those years tends to stick.

• Blood sugar patterns
• Food preferences
• Energy regulation
• Relationship with food

So when highly processed, sugar-heavy drinks become part of daily life, we’re not just talking about a one-off treat.

We’re shaping long-term patterns!

The bigger issue

What really stood out to me is where these products are being marketed. When brands like Dunkin’ are placed in hospital settings, it raises a bigger question:

Are we actually creating environments that support health… or ones that normalize the opposite?

To summarize

We don’t need to overcomplicate this - this is not a controversial take in nutrition.

It’s basics!

Kids and teens deserve environments that make the healthy choice easier - not ones that constantly push them in the other direction.

In health,

-Daina

P.S. If you’re local to New Mexico, I’ll be speaking at a One-Day Holistic Wellness Retreat at Chelenzo Farms on Saturday, April 11. The day includes movement, learning, and time in nature - with sessions like Tai Chi, wellness talks, and community meals on a beautiful regenerative farm in the high desert. If you want a day to unplug and learn more about holistic health, I hope you join!

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