What’s really on our kids’ lunch trays—and who should have a say in it? In this episode of School of Thought, host Dr. Meria Carstarphen sits down with special guest Jaree Cottman for a thoughtful, practical conversation about nutrition in schools.

Together, they explore how much input parents should have in shaping school meal programs, the realities behind nutritional choices at lunchtime, and why healthy options don’t always mean kids will eat them. The discussion also dives into creative, kid-friendly strategies schools and families can use to encourage students to try new foods without turning lunch into a daily battle.

Whether you’re an educator, parent, or advocate for student wellness, this episode offers fresh perspectives on building healthier food cultures in schools—one bite at a time.

About Jaree Cottman

Jaree Cottman, LCSW-C is a lifelong foodie and licensed mental health therapist. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Morgan State University with a concentration in Public Health. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), mind-body medicine and integrative nutrition for PTSD & trauma. Her work is rooted in the belief that we all have access to healing connected to ancient practices like food as medicine, movement, meditation and mindfulness. Through her integrative therapy practice, Afya Counseling & Wellness Services, she provides individual & group therapy, cooking classes and wellness retreats that support deepening the mind-body connection for healthful living. She has combined her passions in a new web series and mental health brand called Kitchen Therapy with Jaree. In this work, she reclaims the kitchen as a space of resilience and empowerment, using food to nourish the mind, body, and soul while fostering mental wellness and cultural connection.The mission is to support people in healing from the past, living in the present and moving toward the future with a greater sense of wellness.