Economist Steve Moore defended the administration’s push for low-cost, healthier meals on Thursday.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday that Americans squeezed by high grocery prices can still eat healthy by keeping meals to about $3 while promoting the Trump administration’s new dietary guidelines. Moore said on “The Lead with Jake Tapper” that better diets could drive down long-term health care spending even as grocery prices remain uneven.

“I think there‘s really two issues here. One is the issue of the Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who, by the way, for full disclosure, is a good friend of mine. Should they be promoting healthier diets? And I say absolutely yes to that,” Moore responded when Jake Tapper pressed him on how low-cost meal claims square with rising protein prices. “I think this is an excellent initiative. We could cut our health care costs dramatically with just better diets for people. And, by the way, I‘m the first in line that doesn’t have a very healthy diet. I eat way too much sugar and processed food. And that‘s just not good for you. ”

Moore said he supports Rollins’ push for healthier eating, saying consumers can still make a $3 meal work by choosing lower-cost ingredients like eggs and pork while staying mindful of rising beef prices.

WATCH: 

“And so I really applaud Brooke for this initiative. And I hope people pay attention to how you can improve your health by eating healthier food. Now, the question then is can you do it for $3? It depends on what you‘re putting in that tortilla. So, for example, you mentioned the fact that egg prices have fallen,” Moore said. “I‘ll tell you something else that‘s fallen in price is pork, pork chops and pork products have fallen in price. Now, you‘re right. Beef has risen in price. And other foods and groceries have risen. So I think you have to be a very cost-conscious consumer to get that tortilla down to $3.”

Federal data indicates grocery bills are still moving higher, with Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing supermarket prices increased 0.7% in December and climbed 3.1% from a year earlier, as reported by CBS News. Over the same period, ground beef costs rose 15.5% and coffee prices jumped by nearly 20%. (RELATED: Watch Steve Moore Tell Former Biden Official How 2026 Will Have ‘Blockbuster’ Economy)

Earlier this month, Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rolled out updated federal nutrition guidance, which the administration billed as a sweeping reset of food policy, according to ABC News. The revised framework moves away from the traditional food pyramid and steers consumers toward protein, healthy fats, and whole foods while discouraging heavily processed products.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].