What does it take to improve the nutritional quality of school meals for millions of children? Try $50 million, a network of 55,000 schools, and an army of dedicated nutrition professionals who see every child, every day. In this episode of the Next Up Podcast, host Marlon Gordon sits down with Rob Bisceglie and Barbara McCurra from Action for Healthy Kids to explore how one of the USDA's largest-ever investments in school nutrition is driving measurable change across the country.

From International Aid to School Cafeterias

Rob Bisceglie has spent 30 years in the nonprofit sector, starting with international development projects for the US Agency for International Development. Living in Washington, D.C., he traveled to Eastern Europe and Africa, places he never expected to visit, before finding his way to Action for Healthy Kids. The organization is headquartered in Chicago and works with schools nationwide to improve health programming across nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. With roughly 55,000 schools in their national network, the scope of their work is staggering.

Barbara McCurra brings a different kind of expertise. Before joining Action for Healthy Kids as Programs Director in January 2023, she spent over 30 years as a school nutrition director in Minnesota. That operational background proved essential when the organization was awarded the Healthy Meals Incentives Cooperative Agreement, one of the most significant investments the USDA has ever made in school nutrition.

"It was $50 million. That's a lot of support. Previous to that, I was a school nutrition director in Minnesota for over 30 years. So I have lots of operational experience and background that I was happy to bring to this work to help school nutrition programs improve their school meals across the country."

The Healthy Meals Incentives Program: Small Changes, Massive Impact

The HMI program was designed not to revolutionize school meals overnight, but to help nutrition programs make incremental improvements that add up. The approach focuses on three arms: recognition awards for schools making measurable nutritional improvements, technical assistance for districts that often operate in isolation, and building a community of practice among nutrition professionals.

With 264 grantees participating across the country, the program addresses a reality that most people outside the industry don't appreciate. School nutrition directors are often the only person in their entire district responsible for their program. Many operate in remote areas, hours away from another nutrition professional. The isolation can be crushing. Through HMI, Action for Healthy Kids provides not just funding and expertise, but something equally valuable: connection.

"Some of these places we visited, they're several hours away from another school nutrition program. They lack the ability to call somebody up and connect with them and talk through a problem. The relationships we've built with the 264 grantees have been phenomenal. Many of them describe it as life-changing."

Why School Nutrition Professionals Are Unsung Heroes

One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is the extraordinary dedication of school nutrition workers. These professionals see nearly every child nearly every day. They learn students' names, their families, their preferences. In schools with hundreds of students where it's hard for every adult to truly see each kid, the cafeteria staff often form the most consistent daily connection.

Barbara spoke passionately about the conditions these professionals endure, small, outdated kitchens, limited budgets, and a constant balancing act between nutritional standards and student preferences. Yet their commitment never wavers. Stories from the field illustrate this devotion: one student named Daniel entered a junior chef competition run by his school's nutrition program, won, and was inspired to pursue a career in food, a full-circle moment that his mother credited directly to the program's nutrition education efforts.

Facility Investment: The Infrastructure Challenge

Beyond meals themselves, the conversation revealed an urgent need for better kitchen facilities in schools. Barbara emphasized that school nutrition professionals need to advocate more forcefully for facility improvements. Many work in kitchens that haven't been updated in decades, with equipment that limits what they can prepare. The humble nature of nutrition workers, accustomed to making do with what they have, means facility needs often get pushed to the bottom of district budget priorities.

At a roundtable event for school nutrition professionals, the team from Action for Healthy Kids encouraged directors to lean in on the facility responsibility of school districts. Better kitchens mean better meals. Better meals mean healthier, more engaged students. The ROI on facility investment is clear, but the advocacy gap remains.

Inspiring the Next Generation Through Food

Perhaps the most uplifting thread in this episode is how school nutrition programs spark passion in young people. From growing food in school gardens to cooking competitions, students are discovering that food can be a career path, not just as a chef, but in buying, logistics, marketing, and nutrition science. The excitement of trying new foods, learning how they grow, and understanding where they come from creates learning moments that extend far beyond the cafeteria.

Action for Healthy Kids continues to expand its reach, with plans to deepen the HMI program and broaden its community of practice. For Rob and Barbara, the mission is personal: every child deserves access to nutritious meals in an environment that respects their dignity and fuels their potential.

Key Takeaways