Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a pediatrician, CEO, mom of three, and the founder of Ahimsa—an award-winning company making stainless steel dishware for kids. But more than that, she’s on a mission to reform public health, starting with what’s on our plates.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why the American Academy of Pediatrics warned against plastics

• How plastic exposure affects hormones, puberty, and long-term health

• What “culinary medicine” really means—and why it’s the future of healthcare

• The simple changes families can make to reduce plastic exposure

• How Ahimsa is changing what kids eat from at home and in schools

• Why school lunch reform = healthcare reform

This is a hopeful, empowering conversation about how we can take small steps in our homes—and big ones in our systems—to raise healthier, happier kids.

Resources & Links:

• Dr. Manasa’s company: Ahimsa

• Conscious Cafeteria Program: ahimsaschools.com

• Follow @ahimsahomeusa on Instagram

• Join the school lunch revolution: eatreal.org/parents

• Find Nora on Instagram: @nourishedwithnora

Guest:
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at NYU, leading researcher on the health effects of environmental exposures.

Topics Covered:

• What plastics are really made of—and how they get into our bodies

• The 16,000 chemicals in plastic (and how little we know about them)

• Why children are especially vulnerable

• Diseases linked to plastic exposure: from hormone disruption to heart disease

• Why only 9% of plastic is recycled

• The connection between plastic and economic loss ($250B/year in the U.S.)

• Which types of plastics to avoid: the worst offenders

• Practical tips for reducing plastic exposure

• How quickly the body can bounce back

• The power we have as consumers to drive change

• How to advocate for smarter plastic policy

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Resources Mentioned:

• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Studies on phthalates, PFAS, and micro/nanoplastics

• UN Global Plastics Treaty discussions

• Safe Drinking Water Act

Take Action:

1. Swap plastic for stainless steel, glass, or wood in the kitchen

2. Don’t microwave plastic—even if labeled “microwave safe”

3. Use water filtration where appropriate

4. Avoid receipts, black plastics, and synthetic fabrics directly on skin

5. Advocate for plastic regulation at state and national levels

In this heart-expanding episode of Nourished with Nora, chef, TV host, and humanitarian Andrew Zimmern opens up about the personal and political power of food. From childhood hunger to mental health to wild game and open-fire cooking, Nora and Andrew dive deep into what it really means to nourish ourselves and our communities.

They talk about:

- Why school meals are one of the most important public health issues of our time

- Andrew’s journey through addiction, recovery, and finding purpose

- The power of friendship, real food, and asking for help

- Easy ways to get kids confident in the kitchen

- His go-to summer meals, bean obsession, and upcoming Blue Food Cookbook

Whether you're a parent, foodie, educator, or just looking for inspiration, this episode will leave you fired up and full of hope.

Nourished with Nora is brought to you by Rorra, the water filtration company bringing cleaner, safer water to families everywhere. Visit rorra.com/nora to get 10% off your countertop system or filtered showerhead today.