Can a Revolutionary School Lunch Program in a Small Florida Town Change the Way Children Eat Across America?

By Catherine Ebeling, RN, MSN, Contributor, The MAHA Report

“We have the opportunity to demonstrate something nationally unprecedented: that whole-food, nutrient-dense meals can improve children’s health outcomes, reduce chronic disease risk, and create a replicable model for states across the country.” – Deirdre Goldfarb

On December 11, in Palm Bay, Florida, the state’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, joined nutrition experts, education leaders, and community stakeholders at Odyssey Charter Elementary, for a high-level summit focused on the future of school lunches across the United States.

The meeting showcased Odyssey’s 26-year commitment to wellness and featured a real-food model with the potential to redefine school nutrition nationwide.

Dr. Ladapo was a guest of honor, welcomed by Odyssey Board of Directors and founder, Constance Ortiz (pictured above, left; and in the below photo); Charles Barth, Executive Director of SŌL (School of Lunch) West Foundation; MAHA Action’s Deirdre Goldfarb; journalist Nina Teicholz; and other key partners.

Guests toured the school’s campus, organic gardens, and real-food kitchens, observing how nutrition, education, and environment work together to nurture healthier children.