In Episode 3 of this season’s Digital and Dirt podcast, Ian welcomes Emily Chatelain, CEO & Founder of the School Food and Wellness Group and the 3 O’Clock Project, to discuss the importance of high-quality nutrition for kids at school.

Here are five key takeaways from the conversation:

• With over a decade working at charter schools, Emily created the School Food and Wellness Group, a child nutrition consulting firm, and the 3 O’Clock Project, a nonprofit addressing after-school hunger, to improve the quality of food available to school children.

• Because school cafeterias are like mini-restaurants but with tighter budgets, stricter regulations, more outdated equipment, and limited staff training, the ability to offer school children fresh cooked, healthy meals is a challenge.

• The quality of school meals, which make up half the daily calories consumed by many children, directly affects focus, mood, social interaction, athletic performance, and long-term health, especially in food-insecure communities.

• Introducing healthier foods, culturally relevant meals, and nutritional education can help create lifelong healthy habits in children, but doing so requires collaboration between parents, schools, and the community.

• With $14B spent annually on school food programs, Emily believes that creative campaigns and branding can make healthy meals exciting for school children, boosting participation and improving student well-being.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Emily’s passion, work, and efforts to improve the quality of food children eat at school, available now on all podcast platforms.