Lunch programs in the public school system is a serious issue faced by families across the United States. On this months's episode of It's More Than Food, host Michel Nischan speaks with industry leaders who are revolutionizing the food model that currently exists in the education system. Toni Liquori, the Executive Director of School Food FOCUS, Kirsten Toby, co-founder of Revolution Foods, and Bill Telepan, Executive Chef of Wellness in the Schools come together in a discussion about the food model that currently exists in the public school system and the ways in which they are changing this model to one that is sustainable, scalable, and nutritional. Revolution Foods has served more than 50 million fresh and healthy meals across the country to date, Wellness in the Schools creates programs that provide healthy eating and environmental awareness, and School Food Focus is transforming food systems to support student nutrition. These organizations are combating the poor foods in school districts with healthy, nutritional, and replicable food models to provide real food for kids and to help them to develop an understanding of good eating. Tune in to this special conversation and hear how lunch programs are changing every day and for the better!

"It has to be affordable and it has to be scalable." [15:00]

"School food isn't different than what most people eat across the country because of what our food system is." [22:00]

"We produce all of the fresh food centrally in each of the regions we operate in. It's a commissary, and that's why we have 1,000 employees. We're cooking everything fresh, every day and then delivering the meals to schools in a format that they can reheat and serve, so at the school site you don't need to change the equipment or labor requirements." [28:00]

"Feeding kids just isn't that important to people." [39:00]

How do nutritionists see taste? Tune in to hear a food based approach to nutrition from Lisa Sasson, Registered Dietitian and Clinical Associate Professor at NYU's Department of Nutrition, Food Studies & Public Health. Lisa and Mitchell Davis have a conversation about diets, nutrition and responsible eating. Lisa gives listeners great advice for holiday eating (pace yourself!) and explains why she thinks taste and nutrition should be synonymous. Learn why you don't have to suffer in order to eat healthier. Find out why eating "whole foods" in season is the best way to ensure freshness, nutrition and great taste. This program was brought to you by Whole Foods Market.

"Taste and nutrition should be synonymous."

"Fat free cheese should be illegal!"

"There will always be new fads in dieting, but what never changes is the basic principal"

"It's [childhood obesity] much broader than quitting fast food and junk food."

Lisa Sasson on Taste Matters

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This episode brought to you by Whole Foods Market (www.WholeFoods.com)