- As vice president, Joe Biden reportedly told staff not to serve one particular food item at events.
- The forbidden food in question: those fiber-filled leafy greens.
- According to The New York Times, Biden, now the president, didn’t want to be photographed with leaves in his teeth.
Häagen-Daz ice cream, Special K cereal, and a plethora of fruit and vegetables were always on hand when President Joe Biden lived in the vice president’s residence, according to The New York Times.
But the one food item you wouldn’t see at an official event? Leafy greens.
In a new report detailing the Democratic president’s first few months settling into the White House, The Times reported Biden put the kibosh on leafy greens at public events for a precautionary and relatable reason: He didn’t want to be photographed with leaves in his teeth.
The White House Press Office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Christopher Freeman, a caterer who worked for the Bidens weekly during the now-president’s tenure as second-in-command also told the outlet while Biden “eschews alcohol,” his wife, Jill Biden, was “an oenophile of the first degree.”
Among the foodstuffs staff were told to keep stocked in the vice-presidential kitchen were: one bunch of red grapes, sliced cheese, six eggs, sliced bread, one tomato from the garden, and at least two apples at all times.
Since taking office in January, Biden’s eating routine has been heavily dictated by the pandemic, which has reportedly forced him to take his 30-minute lunch each day alone, except for his weekly lunch appointment with Vice President Kamala Harris.
But despite full days of policy and politicking, Biden is usually back in the White House residential wing by 7 p.m. each night to eat dinner with First Lady Jill Biden. According to The Times, Biden opts for pasta with red sauce, while Jill likes grilled chicken or fish.
Among the other food facts in The Times piece was the revelation of Biden’s preferred drink — Orange Gatorade — which set off a smattering of takes on Twitter.
—Jacob Shamsian (@JayShams) May 14, 2021
The Times piece also touches on the president’s innermost circle of trusted allies and his careful and cautious decision-making process.
Aides told the newspaper the president has a “short fuse,” and bouts of impatience, but never erupts in rage like his predecessor, the former President Donald Trump. Though Biden may be quick to end conversations he finds frustrating, sources also told The Times he frequently displays bouts of “unexpected warmth.
