Eat Real Launches Medical Advisory Council to Advance Science-Based School Nutrition
Eat Real, the only doctor-founded nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of food served in America’s public schools, today announced the launch of its Medical Advisory Council — an inaugural group of 12 distinguished physicians, researchers, and health experts who provide scientific guidance as the organization continues to expand its reach.
The council brings together nationally recognized experts in pediatric health, metabolic medicine, nutrition science, and child development, who will help guide Eat Real’s nutrition standards, research agenda, food policy and certification as the organization works to improve meals for the more than one million students it currently serves across 21 states.
“Today’s children are at risk of living shorter lives than their parents — and how we feed them is a big part of that trajectory,” said Nora LaTorre, CEO of Eat Real. “This council gives us a direct line to the best thinking in medicine and nutrition science, and sends a clear signal that the health community recognizes school food as one of the most powerful opportunities to improve children’s health.”
Pictured, left to right: Robert Lustig, MD, MSL; Jordan Shlain, MD; Ashley Gearhardt, PhD; Christopher Palmer, MD; Emeran Mayer, MD; Michael I. Goran, PhD; Michele Mietus-Snyder, MD; Nicole Avena, PhD; Hemalee Patel, DO; Bojana Weatherly, MD, FACP, MSc; Deepti Agarwal, MD, DABOIM, MSCP; Michael Rich, MD
The Eat Real Medical Advisory Council includes:
- Robert Lustig, MD, MSL — Co-founder and Chief Science Officer, Eat Real; Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, UCSF; Lecturer and Author
- Jordan Shlain, MD — Co-founder, Eat Real; Founder, Private Medical
- Ashley Gearhardt, PhD — Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
- Christopher Palmer, MD — Harvard Medical School; Author
- Emeran Mayer, MD — David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Michael I. Goran, PhD — Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California; Author of Sugarproof
- Michele Mietus-Snyder, MD — The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Nicole Avena, PhD — Princeton University; Author
- Hemalee Patel, DO — National Senior Medical Director-Chronic Disease Management, Amazon One Medical
- Bojana Jankovic Weatherly, MD, FACP, MSc — Founder and CEO, BOJANA MD
- Deepti Agarwal, MD, DABOIM, MSCP — Medical Director, Precision Medical Care Chicago
- Michael Rich, MD — Harvard Medical School; Author
“I co-founded Eat Real because I was seeing the consequences of poor nutrition in my youngest patients. I’m proud that as the organization has grown, it has only deepened its commitment to science. This council is the natural next step, and I’m honored to be joined by so many esteemed colleagues who share that conviction. Together, we’re bringing more clinical voices to the table to make sure every decision is backed by evidence.” —Dr. Robert Lustig, Co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Eat Real
Council members helped inform Eat Real’s most recent nutrition standards revision in 2025, lending scientific credibility and clinical expertise to Eat Real’s model. Going forward, the council will continue guiding future nutrition standards, expanding the organization’s research portfolio, and translating research into actionable insights for parents, school food professionals, and policymakers.
Eat Real’s certification program — built on 10 evidence-based standards measuring 34 key performance indicators — gives school food service leaders the framework and support to make their menus more nutritious, delicious, and responsibly sourced. Since launching its certification program in 2019, Eat Real has more than doubled its impact, partnering with over 1,900 schools across 63 districts nationwide and reaching over one million students.
