“The doctor of the future will give no mediation, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

-Thomas Edison

Over the past three years, I have spent my days observing and teaching in more than 10 different public elementary and middle schools here in Austin. In turn, I have also been endowed with the opportunity to see what goes on in these said schools’ dazzling lunch lines. For ages, a bad reputation has tarnished our schools’ cafeteria food: devoid of flavor. Minimally nutritious. And guess what? Nothing has changed. If I were a kid in this day and age….I would be choosing the pizza over the raw, flavorless broccoli too. Even if I knew better.

While there have been recent “initiatives” to increase the plant-based options in our children’s schools (ummm pizza=a vegetable?), I am still beyond appalled at what I witness on a daily basis. The “vegetable” options are predictable and tired,to put it lightly: corn and green beans straight from a can, carrots so unappetizing I think a rabbit would turn up its nose, and oh yes, let’s not forget our favorite superfood…ketchup.

The sad thing is…this isn’t just happening in school cafeterias. We are all guilty.

I thought we were revolutionizing our thinking about food and health? Certainly, there are some arenas of the health food scene that have undergone a makeover, but  in many ways we seem to be backpedaling. We know the solution to bodily health lies almost entirely in a diet rich in whole foods. But there also needs to be a little effort on our end to enhance their natural flavors and make our vegetables taste good. So, let’s do it! Start with these Soba Noodles with Peppers, Edamame, and a Spicy Peanut sauce. It is an easy, inexpensive, nutritious,  plant-based meal. Kids love it. Carnivorous grown men won’t (and didn’t) cry over missing meat. So what are you waiting for? Go make this! It is delicious served hot or cold, for lunch or dinner. ¡Buen provecho!