#136 - 7 Key ways to help kids be excited about healthy food | Nora LaTorre & Dr. Casey Means
Jun 24, 2022
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Nora LaTorre, CEO of EatReal, and Dr. Casey Means discuss improving childhood nutrition through school lunches, addressing health issues in kids, investing in real food, the connection between food and mental health, the link between nutrition and pandemics, and making healthy eating fun by cooking with kids.
Redesigning school food systems can have a transformative impact on children's health and well-being.
EatReal works with schools to implement science-based nutrition and sustainability standards, improving the quality of school meals.
Promoting real food can address climate change and contribute to a healthier environment.
Deep dives
Using Schools as a Platform to Redesign the Food System
The lunch room has the potential to solve private change, health pandemics, and future pandemics. Redesigning our food system with children at the center is crucial, and schools can play a key role in this transformation. EatReal is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering school districts to make food more delicious, nourishing, and sustainable. Through their evidence-based certification program, they work with schools to create the best and most nutritious meals for students. By starting the change in schools, it becomes a scalable solution to improve the health and well-being of future generations.
Transforming School Lunches for Health and Sustainability
The current landscape of school lunches in the United States is troubling, with 67% of a child's calories coming from ultra-processed foods. This has led to an increase in preventable, processed food-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity. EatReal works closely with food service directors in schools to implement science-based nutrition and sustainability standards. Through assessments, action plans, and ongoing support, they help schools transform their menus to provide delicious, nutritious, and locally sourced meals. By addressing the need for healthier offerings, EatReal is making a significant impact on children's health and well-being.
The Power of Food to Improve Kids' Lives and the Planet
EatReal recognizes the interconnectedness between food, health, and the environment. Their mission is to empower every child to love real food, not only for their own well-being but also for the planet. By promoting regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices, they aim to reduce the impact of the food system on climate change. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of understanding the link between nutrition and mental health. By advocating for dietary interventions and encouraging a holistic approach to health, EatReal is working towards improving the lives of children and addressing the global challenges we face today.
The Power of Real Food in Combating Climate Change
Real food has the potential to play a significant role in addressing climate change. By focusing on initiatives such as improving school lunch programs and reducing food waste, individuals can take action daily to make a difference. The podcast highlights how the food system, including the soil and farming practices, can be regenerative and help sequester carbon, making it a powerful climate solution. Additionally, the importance of sourcing local, seasonal, and regenerative food for schools is emphasized, as it supports a healthier environment and provides nutrient-dense options for students.
The Impact of Real Food on Health and Resilience
The podcast highlights the connection between real food, health, and resilience, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes the need to prioritize real food as part of a strong immune system and the importance of addressing processed food-related diseases. The discussion touches on how transitioning to real food can have positive effects on metabolic health and immune function, reducing the severity of certain illnesses. Moreover, the podcast emphasizes the need for clear and accessible information about the benefits of real food for individuals and society as a whole.
What if your kids were excited about eating whole foods—and didn’t push healthy vegetables away in disgust? It’s possible to change childhood nutrition for the better! Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Nora LaTorre and Levels’ Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Casey Means discuss:
(04:24) - The current state of school lunches: a challenge to overcome
(08:23) - School lunches are the safety net for the future
(10:35) - How Eat Real started
(12:12) - The health shock affecting millennials
(25:05) - The best classroom in America for health
(38:35) - Why lunchrooms are an investment
(43:30) - Nutrition as early intervention
(49:43) - Every individual matters
(57:43) - How real food can improve your immune system
(01:03:37) - The best way to get kids to eat healthy food