Introducing the ‘Crunchy’ Moms Who Back RFK Jr. for Health Secretary

Once considered a term for granola-loving hippies, “crunchy” moms have come to represent women dedicated to embracing a natural lifestyle for their families.

These individuals tend to prefer herbal remedies over traditional medications and are inclined to use butter or beef tallow over seed oils. They often scrutinize food labels and approach the topic of child vaccinations with caution.

During Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign—first as a Democrat and later as an independent—these moms emerged as some of his most passionate supporters.

Addressing chronic diseases, enhancing children’s health, and tackling corporate sway over governmental health organizations were crucial elements of Kennedy’s campaign message.

As of August 2024, Kennedy has paused his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump.

Following this, he rolled out his Make America Healthy Again initiative, aiming to reduce what he terms America’s chronic disease crisis. His goals include removing toxic substances from the country’s food supply and combating what he describes as corporate domination of federal health agencies.

In November, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Kennedy as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), to which Kennedy quickly affirmed his commitment to implement comprehensive reforms across its subsidiary agencies, including the CDC, NIH, and FDA.

Several mothers shared their enthusiasm with The Epoch Times regarding the prospect of Kennedy assuming the role of HHS secretary, pending Senate approval.

“With RFK Jr., we have a champion in our corner,” Lyndsey Mulherin expressed to The Epoch Times.

A homesteader residing in northwest Ohio, Mulherin dedicates her life to homeschooling her three children, including her son Jack, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2, a condition she attributes to a vaccine.

“Everything we consume, whether it’s food or topical products, impacts our health. At its core, that embodies the essence of crunchy moms,” Mulherin stated.

“Our choices to refrain from vaccinating our other children and avoiding specific foods and cleaning products have been questioned by others.”

“Now, thanks to Kennedy’s platform, Trump’s nomination, and Kennedy’s vision, people are beginning to understand what we recognized a long time ago,” Mulherin noted.

Kristen Taylor, a South Carolina mother who lives by a holistic approach, admits that she hasn’t always lived this way.

“At one point, I trusted conventional medicine, believing that doctors possessed all the answers about health. I took to heart the media’s narratives related to health,” she shared.

“I thought vaccinations were essential and believed that vaccinating my children was a reflection of my competence as a mother. In short, I was indoctrinated.”

Taylor’s awakening began when she researched the components of a self-tanning wipe and discovered parabens, which are linked to cancer.

“I began scrutinizing the ingredients of every product our family applied to their skin. Any product with even a slightly questionable ingredient was discarded. It was an eye-opener,” she recounted.

A fitness enthusiast, Taylor possesses a Master’s degree and previously taught at a public school before choosing to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool educator.

“The partnership between Trump and RFK Jr. fills me with a sense of hope I’ve not felt in a while. Those of us who live the crunchy, holistic, natural lifestyle—however you identify—support RFK Jr. because he represents us and validates our beliefs,” Taylor expressed to The Epoch Times.

“He invests time in deeply understanding topics; if he finds grounds to advocate for something, he does so emphatically. This trait resonates with many of us, transcending political boundaries, because he genuinely cares and is committed to fostering positive change,” she added.

“This type of dedication has been sorely missed in our healthcare systems for too long,” she concluded.

Krista Cobb, a 41-year-old mother of three hailing from the hills of southeastern Kentucky, learned the art of canning, gardening, and hunting from her grandparents.

After relocating to an urban area in the Dayton, Ohio vicinity and spending several decades there, the appeal of the “concrete jungle” began to wear on her, leading her to purchase a small rural property in western Ohio last year.

Since then, she has revitalized the land into a homestead, complete with chickens, goats, ducks, and flourishing gardens.

“I wanted to reconnect with my roots,” Cobb shared with The Epoch Times.

An enthusiastic supporter of Trump, Cobb expressed her delight to The Epoch Times regarding the potential for Kennedy to become the HHS secretary.

“It’s high time for an evaluation of vaccine protocols, the removal of toxins from our food supplies, and leadership of health agencies by individuals with no affiliations to Big Pharma and Big Ag,” Cobb commented.

“I have faith that Kennedy will fulfill his promises, leading our nation toward a healthier future. Change will take time; it won’t occur overnight, but merely knowing he’s in a position to implement these changes is incredibly reassuring.”

Mulherin shared that her son, Jack, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. Following this, she ceased all vaccinations, eliminated processed foods and artificial dyes from their diets, sought chiropractic care instead of pediatric treatment, and facilitated both occupational and speech therapy for him.

Now a 15-year-old high school student, Jack thrives, and Mulherin’s youngest child remains unvaccinated.

Mulherin harbors hope for Kennedy’s confirmation as HHS secretary and advocates for comprehensive studies to assess any correlation between vaccines and autism.

Kennedy has long suggested that childhood vaccines may be linked to autism and has been advocating for substantial research in this area.

In December 2024, Trump announced that he would grant Kennedy the authority to investigate the possible links between vaccines and autism as HHS secretary.

“Kennedy’s aim is to leverage genuine scientific evidence to unveil the realities of vaccines and nutrition. Regardless of political views, one would think everyone would want that,” Mulherin remarked.

Christina Weisner, who is raising two grandchildren, discovered she had Celiac disease 15 years ago, prompting her to become vigilant about food labels.

“Initially, I viewed it as an unfortunate circumstance due to my health issues, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It opened my eyes to the unhealthy substances I was consuming without realizing it, significantly improving my life,” Weisner reflected.

After her diagnosis, Weisner immersed herself in understanding environmental toxins and the dangers associated with vaccines, coinciding with her first exposure to Kennedy’s perspectives on these matters.

Believing that she suffered vaccine-related injuries, Weisner advocates for informed consent, ensuring that patients are made aware of possible side effects before agreeing to vaccinations. She has taken control of her health by creating her own cleaning products, scrutinizing every item in her household, and utilizing holistic treatments and essential oils.

Weisner voiced her admiration for Kennedy and applauded his choice to endorse Trump after stepping back from the presidential election.

“In hindsight, I believe the moment when Kennedy and Trump announced their combined ticket will be recognized as a pivotal step towards transforming this nation’s health policies and truly investigating vaccine safety rather than imposing them on individuals,” she shared.

The increasing mentions of the MAHA movement in mainstream media, alongside Trump’s nomination of Kennedy to lead HHS, reflects the validation of ideas that mothers like us have championed for years,” Weisner expressed.

“This transcends politics; it’s fundamentally a health issue, and we are all in this together as humans. Kennedy’s established passion for his causes and his commitment to follow through makes him a trustworthy advocate,” she concluded.

Samantha Adams, a 40-year-old mother of two and founder of Hadassah’s Herbs for Health and Healing, has spent her life in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio.

Her fascination with foraging for herbs began as a child, and she created her first tincture when her oldest son (currently 18) contracted whooping cough at age two.

“I felt powerless relying on the hospital for treatment; it coincided with my early learning about vaccine components and potential health impacts,” she explained.

Adams devoted herself to understanding how to forage and recognize herbs and plants that grew in abundance on her previous 100-acre property.

Over time, she began to self-treat her children’s ailments like strep throat and ear infections with homemade herbal concoctions.

After a life-threatening car accident in 2021, which resulted in several injuries, doctors prescribed her pain medications and restricted her use of herbal remedies during her hospital stay, she recounted.

Once she returned home, she opted to discontinue the medications and relied on turmeric, ginger, frankincense, and cinnamon for pain relief.

“I achieved a full recovery with no side effects,” she noted.

Adams has since established a holistic business focused on herbal tinctures, teas, and capsules. Despite facing criticism from skeptics who claim that relying on herbal remedies for her children is “dangerous” or “negligent,” Adams stands firm.

“From my experiences and years of successful herbal treatments for my children, I am confident in the efficacy of these natural remedies, yet I often felt isolated in my beliefs. Today, I’m grateful to feel part of a growing community,” Adams shared with The Epoch Times.

She aspires for a Kennedy-led HHS to eliminate chemicals, preservatives, and artificial additives from America’s food supply, emulating regulatory actions taken in other countries.

Furthermore, she would like to see vaccine manufacturers held accountable, enhanced safety assessments for vaccines, and the elimination of vaccination mandates across all states.

“Implementing these changes will promote better health for both children and adults while ensuring informed consent and medical freedom, which are still significantly lacking in this nation,” Adams declared.

She also advocates for insurance companies to cover holistic health practitioners in their policies.

“Presently, it’s uncommon for insurance to cover holistic treatments, which, like organic food, can be more expensive. This financial burden limits access for many families,” Adams explained.

“This must change, and Kennedy as HHS secretary would be a step in the right direction.”