Healthy Lunches, Happy Kids: Rethinking Food and Learning

--:--
In this episode of The Lauren Edmonds Podcast, Lauren shares her thoughts on the challenges of school lunches and how they can affect a child’s day. As a mom and the owner of a special needs school, she understands the frustration of uneaten lunches and the struggle to find the right balance between what’s healthy and what kids will eat.

Lauren explores:

Why some kids struggle with certain foods, including sensory issues and chewing difficulties.
How schools can create space and routines for children to enjoy their meals.
The importance of offering healthy options and moving away from overly processed snacks.
How what children eat impacts their focus, energy, and ability to learn.
She also explains how her school is addressing these challenges, from working with occupational therapists on feeding skills to fostering a sense of community around eating. This episode is full of practical advice for parents and teachers who want to help kids develop healthier habits and a positive relationship with food.
13 Jan English South Africa Education · Self-Improvement

Other recent episodes

Don’t Shut It Down: Let Curiosity Lead the Way

In this episode, Lauren shares how small moments — a child asking a question, noticing something new, making a surprising connection — can be powerful opportunities for learning. Too often, we unintentionally shut these moments down with a quick “not now” or “that’s wrong.” Lauren unpacks how teachers and parents…
9 Jun 12 min

The Long Game of Parenting: Building Connection That Lasts

In this heartfelt episode, Lauren Edmunds, founder of a school supporting children with learning delays, dives deep into the importance of genuine connection with children. She explores how early parenting choices shape the adults our children become, offers practical tips like the "high-low" dinnertime conversation, and challenges the rise of…
5 Jun 21 min

Achieving Amazing Things with Hard Work

In this episode, host Lauren Edmunds unpacks the role of hard work in helping children—especially those with learning difficulties—succeed within the school system. Drawing on her experience in the primary and remedial education space, she explores how structure, homework, and consistent effort can open doors for kids, rather than limit…
26 May 17 min

Feeding Futures: Creating Inclusive, Nourishing School Environments

In this powerful episode, Lauren Edmunds shares the heart and strategy behind reintroducing a transformative lunch program at her school. What began as a response to two children's nutritional and emotional needs quickly grew into a school-wide initiative that not only addresses food security and developmental health but also fosters…
19 May 17 min

From Inpatient to Inspiration: A Journey of Healing and Hope

In this powerful episode, Lauren Edmunds, founder and owner of a non-traditional healing-focused school, shares the transformative story of a young boy once deemed "too complex to help." After years of struggle, including time in an inpatient adolescent unit and being rejected by a remedial school, he finds a place…
12 May 10 min