1. What made you shift your focus from a being a chef to coming up with healthy food choices for kids?

I am truly an unlikely candidate for becoming a lunch lady. While researching and writing my second book, A Bitter Harvest, I learned about how our current food system is harming us, our children, the environment, and our nation. I knew I needed to do something.

2. How serious is the child obesity problem in the US?

Children's health and what we are feeding them is today's most urgent social equity issue. 30 years ago, Type II Diabetes was unheard of in children, but today it is rampant and that is just the tip of the diet-related illness iceberg. Children are now on blood pressure medicine and are getting kidney stones as young as ten years old. We can't expect children to learn or thrive while facing these serious health issues.

3. How can parents improve their present way of feeding children?

During these difficult economic times many parents are in a tough situation financially. "A recent USDA report showed that in 2008, an estimated 49.1 million people, including 16.7 million children, lived in households that experienced hunger multiple times throughout the year"(Household Food Security in the United States, 2008). Parents can start at home by turning off the TV, sitting down to eat with their children and cooking, shopping and growing food with their children. Parents can also write to Congress and demand higher standards and more resources be devoted to the National School Lunch Program.

4. How complicated is the school food crisis?

In terms of food, it's simple. Making healthy food is the easiest part, but changing the system that we have created over the years which is intertwined in our current economy is complicated. It will take a large number of individuals to stand up and speak up for children in order to fight against big business and government in order to change the way our food system runs.

5. How have your efforts helped to resolve the school food crisis? What can parents do in this regard?

My work is one school district at a time and in the districts where I have worked; children are getting more nourishing food. I know that people throughout the country care about better food for kids and are working towards change. I founded The Food Family Farming Foundation so that an online tool could be built to facilitate the connecting of all of these great people working toward change, and so that they'd all have the tools they need. Check out www.thelunchbox.org.

6. Can you advise our mom readers on how to prepare healthy and better food for kids?

Plan ahead, include your kids in healthy choices and find healthy foods that you love because when anyone sees food being enjoyed, they get curious - even kids. Get creative, and make time for great food. This does not have to be more expensive but it may take more time and energy. Talk to other parents and work together, and share recipes and ideas.  Additionally, check out my recipes in Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children.

7. What do you think of the recently launched child obesity program by the First Lady?

I applaud her work. I think this is a terrific way to spotlight this issue and it's so wonderful that she is a busy mom speaking up for this; she knows how hard it can be. She's off to a great start in encouraging positive change. Now we as a country need to say, 'Great, we also want to raise the standards for the National School Lunch Program and none of this change can happen without a shift in resources.