Fueling Kids for Success

A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Adams on Nutrition, Modeling, and Making Healthy Choices Stick

School nutrition does not exist in a vacuum. It lives at the intersection of family habits, school culture, access, timing, and trust. In a recent episode of the NutriSmart SNAX podcast, host Maureen Pisanick sat down with board certified pediatrician Dr. Sarah Adams to talk about what really helps children build healthy relationships with food and movement, both at home and at school.

Dr. Adams is not only a pediatrician. She is also a parent, a grandparent, and a longtime partner in school wellness efforts. Her perspective brings together medical science, lived experience, and deep respect for the realities families and schools face every day.

Wellness Works Best When It Is Personal

Maureen and Dr. Adams first worked together more than twenty years ago through a school wellness committee. Those early efforts focused on more than nutrition alone. They included movement, stress reduction, student leadership, and creating positive experiences around health.

Students were not just participants. They were mentors. Older students modeled healthy behaviors for younger ones, turning wellness events into something fun, social, and aspirational. That experience still shapes how both women approach health today.

The lesson is simple but powerful. When kids feel included and empowered, they are far more likely to engage.

Fueling Kids for Success Starts With Modeling Healthy Habits

Fueling Kids for Success requires thoughtful planning, positive modeling, and school environments that make healthy choices easy and accessible. Kids watch what adults do far more closely than what they say.

Dr. Adams emphasized that this applies everywhere.

At home, parents influence food choices by what they buy, how food is presented, and how they talk about their own bodies and eating habits. At school, cafeteria staff play the same role.

When school nutrition professionals take pride in their work, engage students in conversation, and present food in a welcoming way, the cafeteria becomes an extension of the classroom rather than just a place to eat.

Breakfast Is Important but Planning Is Key

Breakfast came up often, especially the reality that mornings can be chaotic and that many students are not hungry first thing in the day.

Dr. Adams encourages families to plan ahead and involve kids in decision making. Buy in matters. Breakfast does not have to look one specific way. It can be a smoothie, leftovers from dinner, cereal with fiber, or grab and go fruit.

The goal is nourishment, not perfection.

This same thinking applies to lunch. Understanding how much time students have to eat and what they will realistically consume helps reduce waste and frustration. Long lines, limited time, and lack of choice can all impact participation.

Choice Architecture Without Food Shaming

Both Maureen and Dr. Adams shared how small environmental changes can guide better choices without restriction or shame.

At home, that might mean keeping fruit visible and candy less accessible. At school, it might mean a well planned produce bar with both whole and cut options or seasonal decorations that draw attention to fresh foods.

Dr. Adams referenced research showing that students are more likely to choose salad bars when they are visually appealing. Color, presentation, and environment matter.

Healthy choices do not need to be forced. They need to be easy.

Talking About Processed Foods Without Panic

Concerns about ultra processed foods and food dyes are common among families. Dr. Adams encourages education over fear.

Reading labels, understanding ingredients, and focusing on whole foods whenever possible are important steps. At the same time, she reminds parents that preservatives have long been part of the food system and that context matters.

An occasional treat does not undo healthy habits. What matters most is what children eat consistently.

Frozen fruits and vegetables were also highlighted as a practical, nutritious, and budget friendly option. They reduce waste, maintain nutritional value, and make healthy eating more accessible for families and schools alike.

Language Shapes Lifelong Relationships with Food

One of the most important takeaways from the conversation was how adults talk about food.

Labeling foods as good or bad can create shame and confusion. Instead, Dr. Adams encourages framing food as fuel and explaining what different foods do for the body.

This approach helps children develop autonomy and understanding rather than fear. Even very young children can grasp the idea that some foods help them run faster, think better, or feel full longer.

A Simple Message for School Nutrition Teams

When asked what lesson cafeteria professionals should focus on, Dr. Adams shared something refreshingly simple.

Talk to the kids.

Ask what they like. Ask what they notice. Invite their input. Make the space feel human, warm, and fun.

Small conversations build trust. Trust builds participation.

A Favorite School Lunch Memory

To close the conversation, Dr. Adams shared her favorite school lunch memory. Spaghetti with meatballs, breadsticks, and salad with homemade Italian dressing.

Comfort food. Balanced. Memorable.

Exactly the kind of meal that reminds us why school nutrition matters.

This conversation reinforced a core truth. Healthy habits are built through relationships, modeling, and environments that make the right choice the easy choice. Whether at home or in the cafeteria, when we focus on connection first, nutrition follows.

Watch the full podcast episode: https://youtu.be/sj5jf6j7N5U

Listen on Wherever you get your podcasts: Search Nutrismart Snax