How do we reverse the chronic disease epidemic affecting millions of children in the United States? According to Nora LaTorre, it starts with fixing what’s on their lunch tray.
As CEO of Eat Real, Nora leads a nonprofit tackling the root causes of poor nutrition through a science-backed, K–12 school certification program aimed at upgrading food in cafeterias nationwide.
In this episode, Dr. Mayer and Nora dive into the origins of Eat Real, its success engaging parents and schools, and why mothers are at the center of lasting dietary change. They also discuss the broader landscape of public health, including the federal MAHA initiative (Make America Healthy Again), the role of the food industry, and why nutrition alone isn’t enough to address chronic disease without considering stress, inequality, and food systems reform.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
• Why children’s nutrition is the key to long-term public health
• How Eat Real’s 360° model of access, awareness, and advocacy works
• What measurable health outcomes have been linked to school food changes
• The challenges of working within U.S. agriculture and food policy
• Whether federal efforts like MAHA are likely to succeed
If you care about the future of our kids’ health, this episode offers both hope and a roadmap.
If you enjoyed this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, please leave a review - it really helps spread the word & get our show recommended to new viewers. Thank you!