Medical Advisory Council
Eat Real’s Medical Advisory Council brings together leading medical experts across multiple disciplines to help shape and strengthen our rigorous nutrition standards and certification criteria. Their clinical insight ensures our work is grounded in the latest science, supporting school districts in delivering healthier meals that fuel better learning and long-term well-being. Working behind the scenes, they help power the impact of our mission where it matters most — in the health of our kids.
Robert Lustig, MD, MSL
Chief Science Officer, Eat Real Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, UCSF; Lecturer and 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.”
Jordan Shlain, MD
Co-founder, Eat Real; Founder, Private Medical
“We started Eat Real because we believe that prevention is the most powerful medicine we have. We knew that if we could change what a child eats at school, we could change their health trajectory. The Medical Advisory Council deepens that commitment. It’s a group of clinicians and researchers who understand that the cafeteria is a clinical setting in disguise.”
Deepti Agarwal, MD, DABOIM, MSCP
Medical Director, Precision Medical Care Chicago
“Empowering children with real, nourishing food, and teaching them how to obtain and appreciate it, is the first prescription for lifelong health.”
Nicole Avena, PhD
Princeton University; Author
“Giving children access to real, nourishing food builds the neural foundation for healthy choices and protects them from the pull of addictive ultra‑processed foods.”
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
“I am proud to support an organization committed to generating the scientific evidence needed to inform future nutrition policy and improve child health.”
Ashley Gearhardt, PhD
Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
“I’ve had the honor of visiting an Eat Real certified school and I’ve seen first-hand how they are dramatically improving the nutrition quality that our children received. At a time when so many people have said it is impossible to make these changes, Eat Real provides an example to help us move forward.”
Michele Mietus-Snyder, MD
The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
“We owe it to our children to at least make healthy school food choices easier. Good food will do the rest in short order, moving metabolism and unleashing the energy to stay on track.”
Christopher Palmer, MD
Harvard Medical School; Author
“The mental health crisis among America’s youth is undoubtedly influenced by what we feed them. Nutrition is a powerful factor that we
can control.”
Bojana Weatherly, MD, FACP, MSc
Founder and CEO, BOJANA MD
“We can prevent 80% of chronic disease by nutrition and lifestyle change. Eat Real is teaching our schools and children how to create change for a healthier future.”
Michael Rich, MD
Harvard Medical School; Author
“Children’s health is shaped by the environments we create for them. Schools and homes are the most important environments in a child’s life. The food and information available there provides an opportunity to support their health, development, and well-being. Eat Real is turning that opportunity into lasting change by helping schools transform meals into a powerful foundation for healthier, smarter, kinder children and stronger communities.”
Hemalee Patel, DO
National Senior Medical Director-Chronic Disease Management, Amazon One Medical
Emeran Mayer, MD
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
