Sunny Side Up Nutrition

Partnering with Teachers for Protective Nutrition Education with Gwen Kostal


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Anna L. and Elizabeth chat with Gwen Kostal, a Registered Dietitian who helps teachers and educators teach about food safely in the classroom. When Gwen first started out as a dietitian, she was trained to contribute to diet culture, encourage weight loss, recommend restrictions, and talk to kids about how to choose the “best” foods. When she realised that this is not appropriate or helpful for kids Gwen set up Dietitians 4 Teachers to help teachers find meaningful language and lessons that link to the curriculum and make life easier while making the classroom safer. 

They discuss:

  • Examples of diet culture in schools and the harm it can cause.
  • Strategies to approach teachers to discuss concerns about diet culture in education.
  • Some resources for teachers to get diet culture out of schools.
  • Changes that need to be made to nutrition curricula to eliminate diet culture messaging.
  • How parents can support teachers in getting diet culture out of the classroom.

Links: 

  • Dietitians4Teachers website
  • Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast 
  • Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy
  • Pinney Davenport Nutrition
  • https://thirdwheeled.com/
  • https://m8.design/
  • https://www.sonics.io/

Gwen is a dietitian with diverse experience working on different teams and with many different clients and families over the years and with expertise and training in quality improvement, change, and engagement. Nutrition allowed Gwen to find that the most impactful work we can do is listen to understand and move forward together. To the families and clients and staff that I have worked with, you are without a doubt, the greatest teachers I have ever had. Gwen is also a parent, who has experienced true partnerships with educators throughout our family’s school experiences. Change and improvement science are often the missing pieces in great ideas. Gwen is driven towards shared understanding, and problem-solving, and remains a research enthusiast at heart.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit snutrition.substack.com
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Sunny Side Up NutritionBy Elizabeth Davenport, Anna Lutz

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