Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer: The Force Behind MAHA Kentucky

By Barbara Day, M.S., R.D.

 

Setting the Table: MAHA needs State MAHA Groups to Move to a Well Care System

The Make America Healthy Again movement needs for every state in the US to set-up their own MAHA Task Force like the Kentucky Assembly MAHA Task Force. Changing America’s Healthcare system from a Sick Care System to a Well Care System is going to take a lot of work and coordination to get the job done for our children and their children and the future of America.

MAHA Commission Report Action Opportunities with State-Level Action

  1. The Chronic Disease Crisis
  2. Ultra-Processed Foods
  3. The Cumulative Load of Chemicals
  4. The Digital Age & Physical Decline of Today’s Youth
  5. Overmedication of Children
  6. Scientific Integrity & Corporate Influence

The MAHA Commission Report define the problem and also detailed Opportunities for State Legislatures, detailed What State MAHA Coalitions/Commission Can Do, and Grassroots Volunteer Actions as a Road Map for each state.

06 04 2025 4. MAHA_May22_Report_Section_Summary_State_Actions.pdf

Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer: The Force Behind MAHA Kentucky

I first met Shelley Funke Frommeyer, a Republican State Senator in Kentucky from Northern Kentucky, when I was asked to attend with my friend, Diana Starr, who is the co-founder of United Doctors of America, to go to the last meeting of the year of the Kentucky General Assembly MAHA Task Force held on December 16. The MAHA Task Force includes 8 lawmakers from both the Senate and House.

Note: I used to be a very active member of Health and Wellness Community in Kentucky when I published 2 health magazines for 15 years in Kentucky and created nutrition and wellness programs for Jewish Hospital, Humana, Elevance (formerly Anthem) since the late 90s but moved to Indiana to be close to grandkids during Covid-19. 

MAHA Kentucky Task Force Tackles Lots of Health Issue

During the first meeting of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Kentucky Task Force last June, lawmakers said they want to address food deserts and food quality, childhood obesity, mental health  healthcare costs, diabetes, personal responsibility around health, the importance of physical fitness, agricultural partnerships, chronic illnesses, dental care, cancer and other topics.

https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/Committee-Details.aspx?CommitteeRSN=432&CommitteeType=Special+Committee

MAHA Kentucky’s Co-chairman Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer: A Force to Reckon With

As I listened to the co-chairman of the MAHA Task Force, Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer at the December meeting, I realized she was truly a health and wellness leader and advocate for a Healthier Kentucky and she was going to do her best make it happen!

I had been a member of a number of Health Task Forces in Kentucky in the past but…these failed because the new administrations had other agendas to push.  My #1 recommendation for the MAHA Task Force when I had an opportunity to share my past experiences in Kentucky was…to have a doer, not just a talking head but I am betting on Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer to make it happen it Kentucky!  As a mother of 6 children in her blended family with 9 grandchildren and 2 more on the way, she has a lot of reasons to Make Kentucky Healthy Again.

Walk the Talk

Senator Funke Frommeyer grew up on a 300-acre farm with 11 other siblings being the 6th child which makes her a step ahead of many on the MAHA Task Force because of her childhood experiences on the family farm. Part of the MAHA National Movement is all about getting back to basic whole foods. As a result, America’s method of farming is going to have to change into the regenerative farming model to more affordable whole foods into the marketplace.

Senator Funke Frommeyer is not someone who pushes ideas that she herself does not believe in. She’s a very active person running, hiking, and as a result is a role model for her kids, her grandkids and all her meet her. In other words, she ‘walks the talk!’

Kentucky needs to Ban Junk Food on SNAP

Even though I currently live in Indiana, Kentucky is my home state and I will be interested in watching to see how effective the Kentucky Assembly MAHA Task Force is implementing all their recommendations.  It’s all about the future of our kids and their kid’s health and wellbeing.

Hoping on MAHA Task Force will encourage the State Legislature to vote to take Junk Food out of SNAP in 2026.  The MAHA Task Force needs to ensure the SNAP program does not include junk food like 18 other states have passed in their legislatures. Indiana was first ban junk food in Indiana Snap Program.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/waivers/foodrestriction?fbclid=IwY2xjawOvuJNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePWirpA-mSPcIA1t64uV0kdUQ0WUrbBcadg9c8XxshyE8BpW_KZDdhrMRyKw_aem_N8QftqUlHlBxFF6kcrnALg

Below are the Legislative members who are on the Kentucky General Assembly MAHA Task Force.

Legislative Members on the MAHA Task Force:

Below is the reference to all the 8 meetings the Kentucky General Assembly MAHA Task Force.

I personally reviewed all these documents and realized this Kentucky MAHA Task Force has been very thorough in evaluating what is currently going on in Kentucky and what could happen as a result of the task force. The health insurance companies power point presentations were very impressive and hope they will be a driving force behind making a healthier Kentuckian.

https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/Committee-Details.aspx?CommitteeRSN=432&CommitteeType=Special+Committee

Meeting Materials

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

https://legislature.ky.gov/Committees/Pages/Committee-Details.aspx?CommitteeRSN=432&CommitteeType=Special+Committee

Image of Barbara Day

Barbara Day, M.S., R.D.

is a registered dietitian with a Master’s Degree in clinical nutrition. She is the Chief Blog Organizer for www.DayByDayLiving.net   

Barbara worked as a research nutritionist with the military’s tri-service medical school & worked as a performance nutrition consultant to Navy SEALS’ BUD/S Training Program and West Coast Navy SEAL Teams.  Barbara is the former nutrition performance consultant to the University of Louisville Athletic Department.  She is the author of Fast Facts on Fast Food For Fast People and High Energy Eating Sports Nutrition Workbook for Active People used by the University of Louisville, University of Tennessee Lady Vols and the Tennessee football program, the LSU basketball program, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns and by the United States Navy SEALs.   

Barbara is the former publisher of Kentuckiana HealthFitness Magazine, Kentuckiana Healthy Woman magazine and radio show host of Health News You Can Use. Barbara has over 50 years of experience in promoting healthy lifestyles to consumers. Barbara is a former runner who walks, a spinner, hiker, a pickleball player, a mother and grandmother to 13 grandchildren. 

Barbara also serves on the Leadership Team for Moms for America as the Grammy Grizzlies National Group Leader.  (www.momsforamerica.us).

Barbara also serves as a Nutrition and Wellness Advisor for United Doctors of America Advisory Board. (www.usuda.org)

    

  

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