I started making changes in my own home. Eventually, we got to a point that when my husband or I would eat something very sugary or processed, we’d feel its impact. We had been so acclimated to eating ultra-processed foods that we didn’t even realize we could feel better. We saw changes in our physical health, energy, and mood.

I wanted to help others discover what I had found, but I was also mindful that I didn’t have a degree in nutrition (I have a master’s in speech pathology). I didn’t feel comfortable giving people nutritional advice; instead, I helped people who needed to go on elimination or allergy diets or just wanted to try cleaner eating. I would replace products they were used to with healthier alternatives.

When my oldest started school, I was surprised at the number of food incentives offered by teachers. We established a system that worked for us — he brought home what he got in school and we traded it for better options or cash. But even though that worked for us, I couldn’t help but think about all the other kids who were consuming less than optimal options.

I’ve never been one to be satisfied with the status quo. I met with the menahel, Rabbi Nosson Muller, and we had many more meetings throughout the years. He is such an experienced and caring educator, and has been very supportive, but also realistic.

At one of these meetings, Rabbi Muller shared that the school was limited in making any changes because the parent body itself was sending their children to school with less-nourishing options. He suggested that we start by educating the parents with a symposium. I threw myself into the planning.

I really did expect a tiny turnout, maybe 30 people, so I prepared a lot of incentives. I fundraised and hired a dietitian and nutritionist. I made swag bags with 20 healthy school snack options for children, recipes, a children’s comic book on the topic of healthy eating, a take-home pamphlet with a summary of the speeches, and an article from a dentist. We also raffled off Rorie Weisberg’s cookbook and a Ninja blender. We served healthy refreshments like juices, smoothies, and date balls.

Baruch Hashem, the turnout was a dream. About 220 women came. The room was packed, the school was impressed, and the feedback after the event was enormously positive. My phone rang off the hook. Women were really, really interested and wanted to make changes in their home.

This couldn’t just end there. I sought out funding to expand Nourish to Flourish into something bigger than a one-off event. Now, Rabbi Muller gives me space in the school newsletter to share a monthly nutrition tip, like serving mini-doughnuts on Chanukah, how to plan healthier snacks for trips, and strategizing for Purim.

Thankfully, over the summer, I did receive funding from a major donor, which will enable us to not only have another annual event, but to also make some changes in the school. Rabbi Muller had already changed the school policy to give out seltzer instead of soda, and that change was very well received.

I have a lot of really big ideas, like a full-scale nutrition education program, but we’re starting small. For the pre-1A and first-grade boys, since they don’t yet associate school with unbridled sugar, we plan to buy enough prizes to use as incentives for the entire year. Hopefully, once that becomes the norm for these children, we’ll be able to continue in that vein when they’re older. Some other small changes include buying dye-free lollipops and better snack options for the office to give out to kids who forgot their snacks.

I completely understand why a lot of women might be triggered by this topic. We’re all stretched so thin, pulled in so many directions, and short on time and head space. Packaged foods are convenient and easy and they’re everywhere.

Eating well should not be time-consuming, complicated or a burden. It should be tasty, wholesome, and fun. Anything new is challenging in any area of life, so when someone reaches out to me, I encourage her to take baby steps. This could mean buying one product for her pantry that has cleaner ingredients, or incorporating another fruit or vegetable into meals once a day. Once the results start showing, it’s very motivating.

My dream is to shift the culture back so eating nourishing foods is the norm again, and with every woman I help with health choices, I’m a little closer to realizing that dream.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 974)