Meet the 2025 Changemakers: Nancy E. Easton

Nancy Easton is the Executive Director and Founder of Wellness in the Schools (WITS), a national nonprofit with the vision to ensure access to nourishing food and active play in public schools. Nancy has led the growth of WITS into an organization that has cooked more than 50 million school meals and led more than 85,000 hours of active play. She is a regular commentator and speaker on school food and child wellness. Nancy was honored by First Lady Michelle Obama at the launch of Chefs Move! to Schools, named a Food Revolution Hero by acclaimed chef-food activist Jamie Oliver, and recognized by Ann Cooper, the “Renegade Lunch Lady,” for her dedication to school lunch reform. She was named one of the 2020 Top Women in Metro New York Foodservice & Hospitality. Nancy and her family live in New York City.

How do you keep kids excited about healthy food and active play in an environment that often underfunds both?

I try not to approach life—or work—with a deficit mindset. Yes, our work is often underfunded and not always prioritized, but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming big, innovating, and creating programming that brings joy to both kids and adults.

Play is at the heart of everything we do—because kids love to play, and so do adults. I certainly do. Our programs are intentionally designed to encourage that joy. Whether we’re working directly with children or training adults, play and engagement are central to our approach.

We believe curricula should be hands-on, interactive, and driven as much as possible by the learners themselves. That’s why we continually evolve our content to meet the changing needs of students, families, and school communities.

In an underfunded landscape, one of the most essential strategies for sustaining this work is building strong, trusted partnerships. We’re fortunate to collaborate with some incredible, like-minded government agencies and organizations—partnerships that not only expand our reach but also anchor and energize our mission. Building and nurturing these relationships is a long-term commitment—and one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

What’s one myth about school lunch you wish you could debunk permanently—for parents, policymakers, or the general public?

That school meals are bad. It’s easy to say that school food is bad or that Healthy School Meals for All isn’t worth the investment—but that misses the bigger picture. Yes, school meals need improvement, but real change requires addressing the root causes of a deeply flawed system.

We cannot fix school meals without looking upstream—starting with the Farm Bill, which determines which crops receive subsidies. Currently, those subsidies largely support ingredients used in ultra-processed foods, not fresh, nourishing produce. At the same time, schools are expected to feed children on less than $4.00 per meal, often without adequate funding for staff training, kitchen equipment, or quality ingredients.

Every school day, millions of children in the U.S. rely on school meals. For many, it’s their most consistent source of nourishment. To improve what’s on the plate, we must invest in the people preparing the food, the infrastructure supporting them, and the policies shaping what’s possible.

Supporting Healthy School Meals for All is not just an investment in education or equity—it’s a long-term investment in public health. By funding school meals properly today, we can reduce healthcare costs tomorrow and build a food system that truly serves our children.

WITS operates nationally—how do you balance local responsiveness with a broader systems-change vision?

Truth be told, I spend much of my time and energy right here in New York City. This city is truly a great example for national change. I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside a phenomenal team, starting with Marion Williams, our National Program Director, and Alexina Cather, our Director of Policy. They lead our national work with passion and precision, overseeing programmatic and policy efforts across the country. Their leadership—and the teams they guide—ensure that we’re responsive to the needs on the ground, which allows me to focus on positioning Wellness in the Schools as a national thought leader and continuing to drive systemic change.

As always, our work is rooted in strong, trusted partnerships—especially with local Departments of Education. Each partnership is unique, and we pride ourselves on listening deeply and adapting our programs to reflect a “one-size-fits-one” approach. That responsiveness is a core reason we’re able to have a real, lasting impact.

If you could design the ideal public school lunchroom of the future, what would it look and feel like?

Every meal  would be farm-fresh, scratch-cooked, plant-forward, and culturally inclusive—and every child would eat for free. The space  would be sunny and welcoming, filled with round tables that invite connection and conversation. More than just a place to eat, it would be a vibrant hub of curiosity, inspiration, and joy. Children would be  engaged, excited, and open to exploring new flavors and traditions. Throughout the space, thoughtful signage and intentional educational messaging would reinforce the importance of nourishment and the connections between food, culture, and learning. And most importantly, school leadership would see this time not as a break from learning but as an essential part of it—valuing the cafeteria as a place for growth, equity, and well-being.

Where did you grow up?

Key Biscayne, Florida.

What city or town do you call home?

New York City!

What is your background and education?

I studied Art History, with a focus on Japanese Art, at Princeton University and then lived in Japan to continue to learn about the art that I loved. While living in Tokyo, I taught English to pay the bills and fell in love with teaching. I returned to the States and earned my Masters in Education at Bank Street College of Education and then my Administration and Supervision certification from Fordham University. Along the way, I attended the Institute of Integrated Nutrition and received a certification from that program.  

What is one word you’d use to describe our food system?

Broken.

Who is your food policy hero?

I have many – the men and women who feed children every day in schools, the “lunch ladies.” 

What was your breakfast this morning?

I made myself a frozen coconut banana bowl, topped with toasted pecans and fresh berries. And, of course, a piece of She Wolf Bakery sesame toast.

What is your favorite food?

Mediterranean, anything Mediterranean, especially my grandfather’s stuffed grape leaves.

What is your favorite last meal on earth?

Mediterranean, of course, but it is not about the meal, it is about the people at the table and the atmosphere – my most treasured friends and family dining outside on a warm summer evening.

What is your favorite food hangout?

At a friend or family’s home, around a bountiful table of farm fresh foods.

Who are your food policy social media must-follows?

@marionnestle, @markbittman, @chefjoseandres, @drjessicaknurick, @civileats, @foodtank, @nycps.ofns, @nycfood, and of course @nycfoodpolicy