Dr. Mehmet Oz, the President Donald Trump-appointed administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is sharing tips with his employees encouraging them to eat less over the holidays, according to a report.
Wired reported on Monday, December 8, that since early November, Oz, 65, has been including a section titled “Crushing Cubicle Cravings” in his weekly email newsletter to agency employees. The department has around 6,000 members of staff.
The former daytime talk show host reportedly wrote in a recent newsletter, “We all love a fun cookie swap and potluck this time of year. With several teams across CMS hosting holiday gatherings this month, I am sharing some strategies to help you make healthier choices — while still indulging in festive treats.”
“Set your intentions. Decide in advance how many treats you’ll allow yourself to enjoy and try to stick to that number. You don’t have to try every cookie on the cookie table,” he continued in his weekly “From the Administrator’s Desk” email, per Wired.
Oz also advised agency officials to “practice portion control” and “be mindful” while snacking, and “don’t double fist,” said the report.
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He further encouraged staff to “eat off a small plate when you can and take small portions of treats so you can enjoy them without overeating” and “savor each bite, put your fork down between bites, and pay attention to your body’s cues,” per Wired, adding that employees should try to keep one hand free “for shaking hands with colleagues and friends during this festive period.”
In an earlier newsletter, Oz reportedly explained that “from now through the holidays, I’ll share tips for healthy snacking.” He is said to have told employees that “healthy snacking starts with Sunday meal prep. Prepare grab-and-go containers of nutritious snacks… eating healthy snacks — like those high in protein and fiber — throughout the work day will keep [your] energy up and help suppress overeating, especially when there’s leftover Halloween candy at every turn.”
Trump, 79, picked Oz to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in November 2024 shortly after he was elected for a second term as president.
“I have known Dr. Oz for many years, and I am confident he will fight to ensure everyone in America receives the best possible Healthcare, so our Country can be Great and Healthy Again!” Trump said in a statement on at the time. “Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country.”
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Oz was sworn into office at the White House in April, which also attracted headlines after his granddaughter Philomena, 11, fainted during a speech by Trump after the swearing-in ceremony.
“Thank you to everyone checking in on Philo after her big day in the Oval Office 🙏❤️,” the child’s mother, Oz’s daughter Daphne, shared in an Instagram update after the incident. “We are so grateful it was nothing serious, and she bounced right back — with a trip for some delicious Navy Mess soft serve for good measure!!”
“Thank you to everyone who has checked in on our granddaughter Philomena after her eventful afternoon in the Oval Office. I am grateful to report she recovered quickly and was treated to delicious Navy Mess soft serve,” Oz wrote in his own Instagram post.
