Karen Karp is the guest host on a special edition of Taste Matters which focuses on one of the biggest issues in our nation; school food. Tune in as Karen is joined by food writer, journalist, and food luminary Mimi Sheraton, and Eric Goldstein, Chief Executive from School Food. Hear more about what challenges face those trying to improve the culinary programs at our public school. Learn why ethnicity, marketing and convenience all factor equally into what kids are receptive to in the lunch room and listen in as Karen, Mimi & Eric discuss some of the successful tactics being used in New York City public schools to change the status quo when it comes to what our children put in their bodies. This episode was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

This week on Hot Grease, Nicole Taylor runs through the weeks food headlines and chats with Beatriz Beckford, school food coordinator for Brooklyn Food Coalition. Together, they discuss how parents can get more involved at the ground level in improving how their children eat at school and elaborate on the scale of feeding NYC children. Also tune in for a Hot Five on some must-attend food events! This program was sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"You have to get involved if you're unhappy with what's being served. NYC is the second largest purchaser of food next to the military. The way it trickles down into our schools varies school by school. It's important that people understand that and work on making changes on the ground, in the schools."

--Beatriz Beckford of Brooklyn Food Coalition on Hot Grease

There are few topics more important in this country than the health of our children, and this week on Straight, No Chaser host Katy Keiffer chats with Jessica Donze Black, project director for the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project at the Pew Health Group, The Pew Charitable Trusts. Together they discuss some of the efforts being made to ensure that all of the food choices available to kids at school are healthy choices. Find out how vending machines can be used for good and why standards like snacks and bake sales need to be re-imagined to achieve food safety at our schools. Learn more about healthy school food here. This program was sponsored by Cain Vineyard & Winery.

"What we want to do is set minimum standards so that all children have access to healthy food choices. We want parents to be comfortable knowing that ALL of the food choices that their children would have at school would be choices [the parents] would be comfortable with."

"The beverage industry has agreed to stop selling full sugar-sweetened beverages to schools, such as full-sugar soda."

"New York is a place that has made some significant changes in the school environment and in early childhood development. So far the results are really encouraging."

--Jessica Donze Black, project director for the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project on Straight, No Chaser