Most people have foods they’ll never eat again after a bad experience, but when it comes to Donald Trump, his food preferences have been under public scrutiny for years. While the former president is famous for his love of McDonald’s, KFC, and Diet Coke, there’s actually one food he’s completely sworn off. His eating habits have been documented by everyone from his former butler to White House staff, revealing some surprising dietary choices that go way beyond just avoiding vegetables.
Trump refuses to eat pizza crust anymore
Despite being a New York native where pizza is practically a religion, Trump has made a surprising declaration about pizza crust. He told the Daily Mail that he completely avoids eating pizza crust because he wants to keep his weight down. This might explain why people have spotted him eating pizza with a fork, scraping off the toppings and leaving the dough behind.
This decision goes against everything New Yorkers stand for when it comes to pizza eating. Trump’s approach to pizza has puzzled many people, especially since he’s known for not holding back on other indulgent foods. The former president apparently sees pizza crust as unnecessary calories, which is ironic considering his well-documented love for fast food and multiple scoops of ice cream.
His former butler revealed the no vegetables rule
Tony Senecal, Trump’s former butler at Mar-a-Lago, spilled some interesting details about his boss’s eating habits before he died in 2020. According to Senecal, Trump liked his steak well-done, almost overcooked, with ketchup. But the most telling part was Trump’s instruction about what he called “garbage” – meaning no garnish, relishes, or vegetables should come with his meals.
This “no garbage” policy extended to most of Trump’s meals, though reports suggest he wasn’t completely against all vegetables. There was actually a “Mr. Trump’s wedge salad” on the Mar-a-Lago menu, and he’s been known to enjoy salads with Thousand Island dressing. Still, vegetables were clearly not his priority when it came to meal planning.
Coffee and tea never made it to his table
While most Americans start their day with coffee, Trump has completely avoided both coffee and tea throughout his adult life. This might seem unusual for someone who maintained such a busy schedule, but Trump has been consistent about this choice. Instead of relying on caffeine from traditional sources, he gets his energy boost from Diet Coke – reportedly up to 12 cans per day.
His avoidance of coffee and tea sets him apart from most politicians and business leaders who often use these beverages for social meetings and energy. Trump’s preference for Diet Coke was so well-known that he even had a button installed in the White House to summon staff when he wanted one. This complete rejection of coffee culture is pretty rare among high-profile figures.
Exercise got completely written off his schedule
Former White House doctor Ronny Jackson revealed that getting Trump to exercise was nearly impossible. Despite medical recommendations to add physical activity to his routine, Trump showed little enthusiasm for working out. Jackson mentioned that Trump was “more enthusiastic about the diet part than the exercise part” when it came to health recommendations, though even the diet improvements were minimal.
Trump’s approach to exercise has been notably different from other presidents who often made fitness a visible part of their routine. Jackson’s attempts to encourage more physical activity were largely unsuccessful, with Trump preferring to maintain his existing lifestyle rather than adding gym time or outdoor activities to his daily routine.
Alcohol never appears at his meals
Trump has maintained a strict no-alcohol policy throughout his life, which is unusual for someone who has spent decades in business and politics where social drinking is common. This decision reportedly stems from watching his older brother Fred struggle with alcoholism, which ultimately led to his early death. Trump has been open about how this family experience shaped his choice to avoid alcohol completely.
This abstinence from alcohol extends to all social situations, including state dinners and business meetings where wine or cocktails might typically be served. While Trump’s dining habits include plenty of indulgences, alcohol has never been one of them. His beverage choices remain limited to Diet Coke, water, and occasionally other soft drinks.
Home-cooked meals rarely make the cut
Despite having access to world-class chefs and kitchens, Trump has consistently chosen fast food over home-cooked meals. His reasoning goes beyond just taste preferences – he’s mentioned being a self-described germaphobe who believes fast food restaurants are cleaner than other dining establishments. He also likes the predictability and consistency of chain restaurant food.
Another factor in his fast food preference is security-related paranoia about restaurant cooks who might not like him or his policies. Trump’s concerns about food tampering have led him to stick with major chains where he feels the food preparation is more standardized and less likely to be compromised. This preference has remained consistent even when he had access to White House chefs.
Breakfast often gets skipped entirely
While Trump has said his ideal breakfast would be bacon and eggs with the bacon cooked medium and eggs over-well, he frequently skips breakfast altogether. During his 2016 campaign, he told People magazine that he often doesn’t eat breakfast due to his busy schedule. When he does eat in the morning, his former butler Tony Senecal reported it was typically three eggs over-easy with bacon.
This pattern of skipping meals, particularly breakfast, became more pronounced during campaign periods when Trump’s schedule was packed with events and rallies. He mentioned that speaking at large rallies was so exhilarating that he often didn’t feel like eating afterward, leading to irregular eating patterns and increased reliance on snacking throughout the day.
Healthy eating advice gets consistently ignored
Despite receiving medical advice to improve his diet, Trump has largely ignored recommendations to eat more vegetables and reduce processed foods. Former White House doctor Ronny Jackson tried various strategies, including making ice cream less accessible and sneaking cauliflower into mashed potatoes, but these efforts had limited success. Jackson recommended Trump lose 10 to 15 pounds through better diet and exercise.
Even with recent political messaging about making America healthy again, Trump’s personal eating habits haven’t shown significant changes. The irony isn’t lost on many people that someone promoting healthier food policies continues to maintain a diet heavy in processed foods, fast food, and sugary drinks while avoiding most vegetables and exercise.
Trump’s food restrictions go far beyond simple taste preferences, reflecting deeper concerns about security, health paranoia, and personal habits formed over decades. While he’s famous for loving McDonald’s and Diet Coke, the foods he refuses to eat – from pizza crust to home-cooked meals – reveal just as much about his character and lifestyle choices.
