Food Issues

Every year in the U.S., companies spend nearly $2 billion marketing unhealthy foods and drinks to kids in a ton of sneaky ways: in the school cafeteria, on YouTube and social media, through gaming, sports and event sponsorships, branded toys, product placements, athlete endorsements, and even on your kids virtual learning problems. In this episode, I’m talking with Bettina Elias Siegel, a national journalist, children’s food advocate, and author of “Kid Food: The Challenge of Feeding Children In a Highly Processed World,” about the history of food marketing to kids in the U.S., why companies are determined to reach kids of all ages, the “pester power” conundrum, kid influencers on YouTube, how parents can spot these sneaky tactics, what needs to happen at a policy level, and what you can do to advocate for stronger policies and affect change. 

New episodes post on Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss the latest news and practical insight for raising healthy families and creating change in the U.S. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 

2:23 What is the history of food marketing and advertising in the U.S.?

4:35 Why are food and beverage companies determined to target kids and teens?

8:25 What’s problematic about food marketing to kids today and what are the sneaky ways they’re being targeted?

11:21 Has anything changed about their strategy and tactics during COVID-19?

13:57 Food marketing in the cafeteria at schools—are there rules around this?

19:00 Why is the recent study in the journal Pediatrics about kid influencers concerning?

24:27 Is there oversight for food marketing and advertising? 

33:00  What is problematic about the marketing of seemingly “healthy” foods such as yogurt or brands that are endorsed by someone who is perceived as healthy like an athlete?

34.52 What needs to happen at a policy level?

39.21 What can parents do to advocate for change and also make healthy choices for their kids?

42:18 Where listeners can go to get more information about these Food Issues and Bettina Elias Siegel. 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Kid Food: The Challenge of Feeding Children in a Highly Processed World

Subscribe to The Lunch Tray Newsletter

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more. The service also provides one-click ordering at Kroger stores nationwide and select Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast. 

The Dinner Daily has been featured in Rachael Ray Every Day and Working Mother magazines. 

Memberships are as low as $4/a month and new members get a free, 2-week trial. Go to TheDinnerDaily.com and use code “HEALTH15” to receive 15% off.

When COVID first hit the U.S. last March and we were all at home a lot more, we found ourselves in the kitchen baking, cooking, having dinner, and sharing family meals together. Now, nearly a year later, and suffice to say, home cooking and family mealtimes are seeing a renaissance. 

Today on the show, we’re taking a look at how COVID-19 has changed the way we eat and feed our families, what the latest research shows about family meals, sharing practical ways to make mealtimes easier and more affordable, and how to connect with your family whether you’re in the dining room or on Zoom. In this episode, I spoke with Dr. Anne Fishel, the Executive Director and co-founder of The Family Dinner Project.

New episodes post on Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss the latest news and practical insight for raising healthy families and creating change in the U.S. 

Be sure to sign up for the free video course, Turn Your Picky Eaters Into Little Foodies: https://www.julierevelant.com/free-video-email-course/.

Welcome 

1:34 What is The Family Dinner Project and what is its mission?3:53 What does research tell us about the benefits of family meals? 6:37 Do family meals help kids eat more fruits and vegetables? 7:30  What does research show about the effects the pandemic has had on family meals?11:28 Do all family meals have benefits, not only dinner?12:41 In what ways can family meals help children better cope with the challenges, anxiety, and uncertainties of the pandemic? 16:40 Are family meals an opportunity to help kids problem solve, especially because distance learning is so challenging? 18:08 Are virtual meals an effective way to connect with family?21:47 How can parents let go of perfection and still prioritize family meals?27:00 When we return to the “new normal,” will families still be cooking and sharing meals as much as they do now?29:00 Can baking together have the same positive impact on families and kids? 31:28 What are ways families can connect at the dinner table? 38:09 What are frugal ways families can get dinner on the table most nights of the week?40:16 What are some ways to beat mealtime boredom?42:29 How can people learn more about The Family Dinner Project?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

The Family Dinner Project Sign up for The Family Dinner Project’s newsletter and Dinner Tonight ideasBudget-friendly recipes compatible with WIC and SNAP programs Eat, Laugh, Talk: The Family Dinner Playbook

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more. The service also provides one-click ordering at Kroger stores nationwide and select Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast. 

The Dinner Daily has been featured in Rachael Ray Every Day and Working Mother magazines. 

Memberships are as low as $4/a month and new members get a free, 2-week trial. Go to TheDinnerDaily.com and use code “HEALTH15” to receive 15% off.

In 2020, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in the U.S. went through a ton of changes, some of which were because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools and food service directors faced significant financial challenges, were forced to change the foods on the menu and how they distributed meals to kids. In episode 2, we took a deep dive into these issues with Colin Schwartz from the Center for Science in the Public Interest. In this episode, I spoke with Brandy Dreibelbis, director of school food operations at the Chef Ann Foundation, about what schools and food service directors have to had to contend with through COVID-19 and the 2020-21 school year. We also talked about universal school meals and what we can expect from the Biden Administration. 

Welcome 

1:51 How the USDA’s COVID-19 waivers and other flexibilities affected schools and food service directors. 4:16 What has the affect been on the nutrition of school meals?6:44 What have schools had to contend with financially during COVID-19?9:02 For kids who have school lunch delivered to the classroom, are they more likely to eat the meals?10:04 Why were staffing cuts necessary and how has it affected schools? 13:18 How have the changes disproportionally affected underserved communities?16:10  What are the differences between a self-operating and outsourced food service program? 18:16 What can parents do to advocate for scratch cooking in their district when it’s more expensive?20:40 The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 made a lot of positive changes to school meals, but one of the criticisms was that kids weren’t necessarily eating the food. Can kids accept and love healthy foods they’re being served at school even if they’re not eating that way at home?24:18 Congress introduced a bill to introduce universal school meals. Is it necessary and why? 26:11 What is the history and mission of the Chef Ann Foundation?26:56 How can parents learn more and advocate for healthier school meals? 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Chef Ann FoundationThe Lunch Box Fresh Food Matters Video with Chef Ann Cooper

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more. The service also provides one-click ordering at Kroger stores nationwide and select Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast. 

The Dinner Daily  has been featured in Rachael Ray Every Day and Working Mother magazines. 

Memberships are as low as $4/a month and new members get a free, 2-week trial. Go to TheDinnerDaily.com and use code “HEALTH15” to receive 15% off.

In recent years, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has become more political than ever before with rollbacks and attacks on the nutrition standards. Virtually overnight, COVID-19 has also had a significant impact and changed who qualifies for free school meals, the types of food kids are served, and the ways in which they access meals. Throughout 2020, the USDA and the Trump administration implemented school lunch waivers and proposed rules that have the potential to affect kids’ health and lead to increased rates of childhood obesity. In this episode, I interview Colin Schwartz, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) about what happened with school lunch in 2020, what it means for our kids’ health, and what we can expect from the Biden administration this year. 

For the highlights, see the time stamps below, but listening to the entire episode will give you a deep dive into the issues.

Welcome 

1:46 As a result of COVID-19, the USDA has provided free meals to kids through the 2020-21 school year which is something school advocates have been asking to have for years. Yet CSPI and other organizations have concerns about the nutritional quality of those meals as well as attacks on the standards by the Trump Administration. 

6.29 The USDA also implemented the meal pattern waiver which allowed schools to serve meals that don’t meet certain nutritional standards. 

7.52 The Trump Administration waived a requirement from Congress which stated that schools have to demonstrate hardship in procurement. 

9:47 Congress passed a package to fund schools for any deficit spending they had at the beginning of the pandemic. 

11:03 School breakfasts are high in added sugars too, but there’s no standard in place to limit them in school meals. 

14.42 Are more kids eating school meals, is there a reduction in food waste, and will the waivers—and the potential for weakened school nutrition standards— lead to increased childhood obesity rates and poor health?  

20:06 Will the school lunch waivers have an impact on kids’ food choices outside of the home? 

24.23 What are competitive foods, will they return, and if the new proposed rules are implemented, how will it affect kids’ health?

33:59 In January and November 2020, the USDA published proposed rules that would allow certain flexibilities around fruit at breakfast, starchy vegetables, flavored milk, whole grains, and sodium. 

37.32 The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 state a healthy dietary pattern should include vegetables and recommend plant-based foods like beans and legumes. Are schools adding more plant-based options? 

40.17 What does the research show about the impact of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, and given the new proposed rules, what are the concerns?

44:09 What will the Biden administration do to improve school meals?

45:31 What is the Center for Science in the Public Interest doing to support universal school meals?

49:48 What can parents do to educate themselves and advocate for healthier school meals?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

Center for Science In The Public InterestEmail CSPI at [email protected] 

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinne...

Welcome to the very first episode of "Food Issues." In this episode, about the impact of COVID-19 on health inequities, rates of food insecurity, and childhood obesity. We also tackle the current state of school lunch and proposed waivers, food marketing and social media influencers and what we can do to affect change. My guest is Dr. Marlene Schwartz, the Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity and Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at UConn. For the highlights, see the time stamps below, but listening to the entire episode will give you a deep dive into the issues.

Welcome2:00 What impact has COVID-19 had on food insecurity?4:10 What impact has COVID-19 had on childhood obesity rates? 6.51 What did the USDA waivers for school lunch do?15.04 How has COVID-19 affected health inequities in the U.S.?18.06  Dr. Schwartz’s research about unhealthy food donations and social stigma are linked to higher rates of both food insecurity and obesity among food pantry clients 27.00 What did this recent study on junk food marketing find and what’s your advice to parents?34.52 YouTube influencers are marketing junk food to kids too—what can parents do?38.05 What is the impact of COVID-19 on childhood obesity rates?40.37 What does the future hold—do you have hope for these food issues to improve?

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and ObesitySubscribe to the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity’s newsletter 

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

The Dinner Daily is a one-of-a-kind, weekly, personalized dinner planning service that makes getting dinner on the table every night easy and affordable for busy families. 

Founded by a working mom of 3, The Dinner Daily answers the “what’s for dinner” question, helps families eat healthy, and save money and time. 

Members receive complete meal plans and an organized grocery shopping list customized according to their food preferences, dietary needs, family size, and weekly specials at more than 16,000 grocery stores across the U.S. to help them save money. 

Meal plans can be customized for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, heart-healthy, and more. The service also provides one-click ordering at Kroger stores nationwide and select Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast. 

The Dinner Daily  has been featured in Rachael Ray Every Day and Working Mother magazines. 

Memberships are as low as $4/a month and new members get a free, 2-week trial. Go to TheDinnerDaily.com and use code “HEALTH15” to receive 15% off.

With hundreds of thousands of Americans dying each year from obesity, type-2 diabetes, and a slew of chronic health conditions—all a direct result of food inequities, a broken food culture, and food marketing, and worsened by COVID-19, a significant shift in how we think about food and how we feed our kids must happen now if we want to change the trajectory of health for our kids.

Growing up in the 1980s, convenience food was everything, and I lived on hot dogs, Hamburger Helper, frozen TV dinners, fruit roll-ups and a ton of processed foods.

Unfortunately, not much has changed for our generation of kids.

I’m so excited to announce that my new podcast, “Food Issues,” will launch on February 2, 2021!

When I founded JulieRevelant.com nearly 4 years ago, I wanted to change parents’—and our country’s—perspectives about feeding kids.

In every episode, I’ll interview authors, researchers, healthy food advocates, and thought leaders who want to educate, inspire, and empower organizations, parents, and local communities to create real, lasting change and ensure a healthier future for our kids

Through profound conversations that uncover the real issues affecting families coupled with easy, practical tips for parents, this podcast is the place to change our kids’ futures.

Here are some episodes you can expect:

Feeding Kids In 2021

COVID-19’s Impact on School Lunch

The New Home Kitchen

Food Marketing, Advertisers and Kid Influencers

How To Cut Down on Food Waste

Cooking Through COVID-19

LISTEN TO THE TRAILER FOR FOOD ISSUES