3. Who Pays, Who Benefits? The Case for School Lunch as Infrastructure with Stephanie Noto
In this episode, MaK talks with Stephanie Noto, a registered dietitian and former national menu developer who spent nearly two decades inside school food before building Noto Nutrition Consulting to work with districts one at a time. They get into the “taxpayer handout” debate, the stigma of the separate lunch line, and why cheap, ultra-processed food is often the more expensive choice. Stephanie also explains why the nutrition rules aren’t the problem and what actually gets a kid to eat the vegetable. Along the way, two working moms trade stories about carrying it all.
If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a cafeteria menu, packed a lunch out of habit, or wondered who pays and who benefits, this one will change how you see the tray.