NutriSmart Snax

Maureen Pisanick chats with Jan Diamond of the American Dairy Association Mideast about why dairy continues to be a cornerstone of school meals, especially with new sugar regulations on the horizon. From smoothie kits and lactose-free milk pilots to breakfast ice cream and creative vegetable add-ins, this episode delivers practical inspiration for fueling students and strengthening breakfast parti...

In this special NutriSmart SNAX Podcast episode recorded live at the OSBA Capital Conference, host Maureen Pisanick speaks with Phil Herman and Tom Speaks of The Impact Group to explore Appreciology, staff retention, and how the school cafeteria truly serves as the heart of culture. 👂 What you'll learn in this episode: ● What Appreciology is and how it improves team morale ● A simple 45-day g...

From pizza nostalgia to tackling the dreaded out-of-stock blues, this episode dives deep into what it takes to keep school menus running smoothly. Episode 12 of the NutriSmart SNAX Podcast  features a lively conversation between our co-founder, Maureen Pisanick, RDN, LD , and Marisa Seitz , RDN, LD Education Specialist at Gordon Food Service (GFS) —and a former school food service director herself...

From creative spark to compliant, student-approved meal! In this episode of NutriSmart SNAX , host Maureen Pisanick sits down with Alana Hansen from Pisanick Partners to explore how new school recipes are imagined, tested, and served with success. They discuss where inspiration comes from - industry trends, social media, and most importantly, student feedback - and how the team turns those ideas i...

When it comes to wholesome meals fueling healthy lives, local food plays a big role. In a recent conversation with Ali Guzik, Program Manager for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and leader of Feed Our Future, we explored how her team connects schools, farmers, and communities to put fresh, local food on students’ trays. 💬 What You’ll Learn: Funding and sustainability amid uncertainty for scho...

Join host Maureen Pisanick as she talks with Terry Thomsen from The Pizza Bagel Lady and Megan McDonald from DoughGos—two Ohio-based entrepreneurs bringing fresh, local, and student-approved foods to K-12 schools. From clean-label pizza bagels and cinnamon breakfast dough to locally sourced breakfast bars and pretzel bites, Terry and Megan share how they’re blending flavor, nutrition, and farm-to-...

Join host Maureen Pisanick as she sits down with school foodservice pros Pam Reitz and Phyllis Brannon to explore cost-smart, flavor-packed strategies for K-12 menus. From plant-based bolognese sauce and bold-flavored chicken to time-saving mashed potatoes and frozen pasta, this episode delivers practical ideas to boost participation, save labor, and stretch your commodity dollars. 💬 What You’ll...

Join host Maureen Pisanick as she talks with school nutrition pros Lola Dear of Simplot and Holly McGarry of Acxion about balancing flavor, creativity, and cost in today’s K-12 meal programs. From guacamole cups and BBQ Sidewinder fries to globally inspired sauces and smart commodity protein use, this episode is packed with real-world tips for stretching budgets while keeping menus fresh and excit...

In today’s school nutrition landscape, the push for clean label transparency and Buy American compliance is more than just a trend—it’s becoming an essential part of serving students wholesome, trustworthy meals. Recently on the podcast, Maureen Pisanick sat down with Elena Bice , Product Transparency Lead at Gordon Food Service (GFS), and Chip Gregory , longtime GFS team member and Digital Soluti...

After 34 years in school nutrition, Kelly Minnick has built more than menus—she’s built a legacy. Known affectionately as the Mother of the Lunchbox, Kelly’s career has been defined by innovation, community partnerships, and a deep commitment to feeding kids well. Recently retired from her role as Director of Painesville City Schools, Kelly joined host Maureen Pisanick to reflect on her journey, s...

Featured on Growing Up with Dr Sarah - Ep. 48 - Healthy School Lunches https://sites.libsyn.com/369683/ep-48-healthy-school-lunches Show Notes: When it comes to learning nutrition is one of the most important factors Hungry minds can’t learn! School lunches can provide healthy options such as a produce bar and encourage the children to taste and “eat the rainbow!”  Maureen and I discuss the i...

Maureen Pisanick and Tina Hastings sit down with some of our clients and discuss what it takes to perform student menu sampling.  Andrea is with Avon Lake City Schools and Jess is with Woodridge Local Schools.

Brooke Gammie A dream fulfilled starts with finding your life partner…..and finding a career you’re passionate about.  Brooke fell in love with Ben AND the idea of farming over cold beers on weekend camping trips with friends in Austin, Texas; a special City near and dear to her heart which served as her late-20’s self-discovery adventure and home to her career as a Professional Civil Enginee...

Mickinzie Lopez, MS, RDN, SNS Co-Founder of LunchAssist Mickinzie Lopez is a Registered Dietitian, a School Nutrition Specialist, and a Co-Founder of LunchAssist. Since 2018, she has supported School Nutrition Professionals in their understanding and implementation of federal and state regulations. She has a special talent for developing tools and resources that help communicate complex informatio...

Marlon is the Founder & CEO of NxtGen Network, a creative marketing agency that is passionate about relationships, telling stories, and empowering others through innovation. He partners with those in Child Nutrition, Hospitality, and Food & Beverage and also has an international philanthropical project called NxtGen Cares. Marlon is co-creator/co-host of First Taste TV™, a show dedicated t...

This series includes 5 episodes with a local fast-casual dining expert - Mac Lewis.  Steal industry insight and gain perspectives on creating the customer experience in your cafeteria.  

This series includes 5 episodes with a local fast-casual dining expert - Mac Lewis.  Steal industry insight and gain perspectives on creating the customer experience in your cafeteria.  

This series includes 5 episodes with a local fast-casual dining expert - Mac Lewis.  Steal industry insight and gain perspectives on creating the customer experience in your cafeteria.  

This series includes 5 episodes with a local fast-casual dining expert - Mac Lewis.  Steal industry insight and gain perspectives on creating the customer experience in your cafeteria. 

This series includes 5 episodes with a local fast-casual dining expert - Mac Lewis.  Steal industry insight and gain perspectives on creating the customer experience in your cafeteria.

This series includes eight episodes with our favorite local celebrity chef - Tim McCoy.  From his culinary creations at our Child Nutrition Summit to his love for supporting all things school lunch 2.0, we sit down and discuss insights and opportunities to channel our inner chef!

This series includes eight episodes with our favorite local celebrity chef - Tim McCoy.  From his culinary creations at our Child Nutrition Summit to his love for supporting all things school lunch 2.0, we sit down and discuss insights and opportunities to channel our inner chef!

This series includes eight episodes with our favorite local celebrity chef - Tim McCoy.  From his culinary creations at our Child Nutrition Summit to his love for supporting all things school lunch 2.0, we sit down and discuss insights and opportunities to channel our inner chef!

This series includes eight episodes with our favorite local celebrity chef - Tim McCoy.  From his culinary creations at our Child Nutrition Summit to his love for supporting all things school lunch 2.0, we sit down and discuss insights and opportunities to channel our inner chef!

This series includes eight episodes with our favorite local celebrity chef - Tim McCoy.  From his culinary creations at our Child Nutrition Summit to his love for supporting all things school lunch 2.0, we sit down and discuss insights and opportunities to channel our inner chef!