Join Georgia and Jane as they sit and chat to a leading independent advocate for children's health in Australia. Belinda Smith, founder of The Root Cause, shares her journey from a stressed-out mother to a passionate crusader for better nutrition in schools.

The conversation delves into some shocking statistics - nearly half of Australian children now have one or more chronic health conditions, with the numbers steadily rising over the past decade. Belinda explains how what we eat is intimately connected to these health issues, and how simple changes can make a big difference.

Parents will find practical advice on transitioning their families to healthier eating habits without causing friction. Belinda emphasises the importance of small, consistent steps rather than drastic changes, and offers innovative ways to talk to children about food that empower them to make friendlier food choices.

This episode is a must-listen for any parent concerned about their child's health and future. It offers hope, practical strategies, and a reminder that the work we do to feed our children well is profoundly important - not just for our kids, but for generations to come.

More about The Root Cause:

The Root Cause is a socially driven business standing for children's health. With more than a decade of experience of collaborating with schools and parents, The Root Cause keeps things fun while sparking conversations about food and the impacts it has on our wellbeing and the health of our planet.

The Mad Food Science Incursion is The Root Cause's flagship school incursion where they make food a fun experiment. The incursion ticks Australian Curriculum boxes and is a great way to spark conversations about food and how it connects to the way we feel and how it also can impact our planet. The incursion has reached over 290 across Australia and empowered over 65,000 children to understand the connection between food, their body and the planet.

Making friends with food is an innovative school wellbeing partnership, using food literacy to empower whole school communities to create lifelong nourishing friendships with food. With fun in-person incursions and workshops, online resources for teachers and parents, and a dedicated Certified Instructor, lovingly mentoring and guiding you for the whole year. The partnership has been purposefully designed to be integrated in what schools already have on their calendar, and it also includes the signature Mad Food Science Incursion. This partnership is for forward thinking schools who want to not just tick curriculum boxes but they want to see an improvement in wellbeing of teachers, students and their school families.

Connect with Belinda via one of the links below to find out how your school can ‘make friends with food’

Join The Root Cause:

• Making friends with food webpage
• The Root Cause Webpage
• Facebook
• Insta
• LinkedIn

For more expert support, check out our Raising Well Nourished Kids online program

For support creating nutritious lunchboxes simply, take a look at The Lunchbox Formula online program

Follow on Instagram @wellnourishedkids