In this episode of At the Table we had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Polon aka Soupergirl.

Sara Polon graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied history. Her career path then took many meandering twists and turns including working at an Internet start-up, leading tours through the Middle East, and several years as a stand-up comic in New York. 

In 2008, she founded Soupergirl along with her mom, Marilyn Polon (aka Soupermom /Chief Anxiety Officer). The duo were ahead of their time when launching a “direct to consumer” business in 2008! They grew the business from a local delivery concept to a nationally recognized soup company. Their soups and gazpachos can be found at major retailers such as Whole Foods, Costco, Safeway, Shoprite, and more.

Throughout every step of growth, the Polons have stayed true to their mission - producing food that is good for the consumer and good for the world. Their hand-crafted, plant-based, kosher products are sourced from sustainable farmers that respect the earth and the labor force. As they grow, they have become extraordinarily focused on the sustainability and justice of their supply chain. Soupergirl was the first CPG brand to receive a Fair Food certification in the summer of 2022.

Soupergirl has received national press, and has been featured in such publications as the Washington Post, Food and Wine, O Magazine, and more. The soup duo has also been seen on national tv -  ABC's Shark Tank, NBC's Today Show, and CBS’ The Dish.

In this episode of At the Table we met with Christina who works as a healthcare consultant, author, and thought leader, focusing on advancing the role of nutrition in healthcare. She applies her expertise in healthcare and public health research, policy, and practice to support leading healthcare institutions, life science companies, healthcare professional associations, and other stakeholders to improve care delivery and health outcomes. She also regularly writes, teaches, and develops trainings and programs about nutrition, culinary medicine, and sustainable agriculture—including directing award-winning and innovative culinary medicine trainings for various healthcare organizations, publishing 5 cookbooks for the Transamerica Institute, coauthoring Mix It Up: The Culinary Medicine Cookbook for Mixing Things up in the Kitchen and The Farm Bill: A Citizen’s Guide, and co-developing a culinary medicine course at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and lifestyle medicine program for MedStar Shah in Maryland. 

https://www.christinabadaracco.com

In this episode of At the Table we sat down with Lilian Wanandy-Perez. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, she grew up savoring the rich flavors of her mother's home-cooked meals. Although she didn’t initially share her mother’s love for cooking, it was during her studies at Imperial College London, where she earned a degree in Biochemistry, that Lilian discovered the therapeutic power of cooking and baking as a creative outlet.

When her kids were diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies, she was determined to keep being creative in finding solutions, creating new recipes and providing her kids with the same positive food experiences she had growing up (and dreaming maybe one day for the food allergy community). Now, through her coaching platform Teal Light, Lilian empowers individuals and families navigating food allergies to live fully and fearlessly.

In this episode of At the Table, we sat down with Kendra Bjoraker to discuss the impact to the individual and family when diagnosed with a rare disease. Dr. Bjoraker also opened up about her own personal experiences, and touched on the importance of mental health support and the grieving process.

Dr. Bjoraker is a pediatric neuropsychologist with specialized expertise in rare genetic conditions. With faculty appointments at the University of Minnesota and Children’s Hospital Colorado/University of Colorado, she has pursued extended studies in genetics, metabolism, and neurodegenerative conditions. An advocate, researcher, and speaker, Dr. Bjoraker has numerous publications on rare genetic conditions. Her work focuses on multi-disciplinary approaches to care, seeking to improve health outcomes and alleviate stressors associated with pediatric and adult conditions, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of life for her patients. Dr. Bjoraker currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she owns a consultancy business 3:1 Neuropsychology Consultants, LLC

In this episode of At the Table, we met with Hilary Kave, who is a Registered Dietitian (RDN) for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where she crafts personalized nutrition plans to help athletes fuel their bodies for peak performance in intense competitions.

Originally from the Midwest, she entered the field of nutrition with a clear mission: to help individuals from all backgrounds develop a positive relationship with food, adopt sustainable habits, and achieve peak performance. In this episode we discussed the best ways to fuel when exercising, the different nutrient requirements throughout the life cycle (kids vs adults) and the use of supplements.

In this episode of At the Table with Sara & Juli we dive into the world of eating disorders with Anna Riverso MS, RD.

Anna has been working with those with eating disorders for eight years, and she is currently the Director of Nutrition at an Eating Disorder Treatment Center in San Francisco. 
Her approach to nutrition is through a science and physiology lens, teaching others how to identify health misinformation and how to find the truths about looking and eating healthy.  From teaching about All Foods Fit and Health at Every Size to custom lessons on macronutrients and digestion, Anna works to empower her patients through the education necessary to make informed choices about their health.  
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Science from Villanova University, and alongside Sara, she earned her Master of Science degree in Nutrition Science from Syracuse University.

In this episode of At the Table we had two guests, Dr. Lynn Brann and Dr. Rachel Razza from Syracuse University where we discussed how diet and self-regulation are related based on their research in the SELF Regulation Lab.

Dr. Lynn Brann is an Associate Professor of Nutrition serves as the Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at Syracuse University. She earned her BS in Human Nutrition from the University of Maine and her MS and PhD in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee. She is a registered dietitian/nutritionist. Her research interests include the examination of dietary intake and diet quality of children and adolescents related to growth, development, and health, as well as mindful eating to improve food acceptance and self-regulation in children.

Dr. Rachel Razza is a Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Associate Dean in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University. She earned her BS in Psychology from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo her MS and PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on the biological and contextual factors that promote self-regulation among children and youth and mindfulness-based practices as an intervention strategy to foster resilience and promote wellbeing. 

In this episode of At the Table with sat down with April Anderson, MA, CCC-SLP, IBCLC who is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She has experience working with children with a variety of speech and language disorders, although has a special interest in children with feeding disorders. April has worked with infants and children of all ages at home, daycare, and in the clinic with feeding and swallowing issues such as accepting different textures, transitioning to solids, oral motor difficulties, and children diagnosed with tongue ties, as well as infants with special needs like cleft palate, feeding tubes, autism, and children with Down syndrome. As an IBCLC, April helps educate and support families with a variety of breastfeeding needs. She partners with The Breastfeeding Center of Greater Washington and is a member of the DC Breastfeeding Coalition. She has been published in the Washington Parent magazine and written for the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Leader magazine and blog. She is a previous ASHA Conference presenter, Talk Tools Global Conference presenter, and guest lecturer at area universities. April owns Anderson Pediatric Therapy and helps families navigate their speech and feeding journeys nationwide. She can be reached online at www.andersonpediatrictherapy.com and [email protected].

In this episode of At the Table we sat down with Dr. Blake Colaianne who is an Assistant Research Professor at Penn State University. His research examines how contemplative education supports the social and emotional development of high school and college students. Currently, he is developing system-level programing within K-12 and university settings.

In this episode we talked about the movies Inside Out 1 & 2, learned about the term human flourishing, why emotions are so complex and attachment theory in child development.

In this episode of At the Table, we sat down with Mary Catherine Oechslin, also known as The Mom NP to talk about constipation during the toddler years, formula vs breastfeeding volumes, starting solids, holistic medicine approaches such as the use of Hemp with kids and artificial dies.

MC is a pediatric nurse practitioner working in private practice for the past 6 years. She is a certified lactation counselor for the past 5 years. Prior to being a nurse practitioner she worked as a RN in the pediatric intensive care unit and as a child life specialist working with the pediatric trauma department and Emergency room. She is also the creator behind the.mom.np instagram page where she provide lots of pediatric medical education and assurance. She is also a mom of two wonderful kids.