Children First: Why Early Nutrition Matters More Than Ever

On this episode of Add Passion and Stir, host Billy Shore and co-host Debbie Shore speak with Dr. Katie Quee...

About This Episode

On this episode of Add Passion and Stir, host Billy Shore and co-host Debbie Shore speak with Dr. Katie Queen, a Louisiana pediatrician focused on preventing childhood obesity, and Dr. Rosemarie Allen, a lifelong early childhood and education leader. Together they explore the real-world impact of hunger, food insecurity, inequity, and policy decisions on children’s health, learning, and long-term development. The conversation also looks at the first 1,000 days of life, prescription programs for fresh produce, school meals, stigma around food assistance, and why investing in maternal nutrition and early childhood access is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for kids. If you care about children’s health, education, and public policy, this is a must-listen episode.

Resources and Mentions:

Dr. Katie Queen

Pediatrician and Obesity Medicine Specialist

Dr. Katie Queen is a pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist in Louisiana who is passionate about ensuring every child has access to the nutrition they need to grow and thrive. Her work sits at the intersection of healthcare and food access, where she partners with organizations like No Kid Hungry to address food insecurity as a critical driver of child health.

She helped pilot a Produce Prescription program in Louisiana, connecting families directly to fresh, healthy foods as part of their medical care. Through her work in food as medicine, culinary medicine, and obesity care, Dr. Queen is committed to building systems that support healthier futures for all children—especially those most at risk.

Dr. Rosemarie Allen

President and CEO

Dr. Rosemarie Allen is a nationally respected leader, educator, and advocate whose life's work is dedicated to dismantling systemic inequities and ensuring every child—regardless of race, background, or ability—has the opportunity to thrive. She serves as President and CEO of the Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence (IREE), the only organization in the United States that licenses early childhood programs through an explicit lens of racial equity. Under her leadership, IREE has transformed the way child care programs are evaluated, centering fairness, access, and cultural responsiveness in every aspect of early learning.

Dr. Allen’s career spans more than four decades, including leadership roles in government, education, and nonprofit sectors. She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking work on racial disparities in school discipline, particularly in early childhood settings where children of color—especially Black boys—are disproportionately suspended and expelled. Her expertise in culturally responsive teaching and equity-focused policy reform has influenced practices at local, state, and national levels.

A dynamic speaker and sought-after consultant, Dr. Allen has delivered keynote addresses, testified before policymakers, and trained thousands of educators, leaders, and advocates. Her work has been featured in major media outlets, and she serves on national boards and commissions dedicated to advancing racial equity in education.

Dr. Allen’s approach is deeply rooted in scholarship and lived experience, blending research-based strategies with a deep understanding of how systemic bias operates in real-world settings. She is known for challenging audiences to confront uncomfortable truths, while inspiring them to take actionable steps toward lasting change.

Passionate, fearless, and visionary, Dr. Rosemarie Allen is not only shaping the future of early childhood education—she is helping to build a world where every child’s brilliance is recognized, nurtured, and celebrated.

Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence (IREE)

The mission of the IREE is to create environments where children thrive and reach their greatest potential. We aim to support and enhance the practices of the workforce to increase child, family, and community outcomes.

IREE’s Goals & Intentions

To partner with agencies and organizations to strengthen the instructional practices of early childhood educators.
To support children, families, and communities by improving teaching strategies and learning environments.
To identify and revise practices and policies that hinder optimal learning and development for all children.
To reduce disciplinary practices that contribute to long-term negative outcomes for young children.

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Children First: Why Early Nutrition Matters More Than Ever

About This Episode

Resources and Mentions:

Dr. Katie Queen

Dr. Rosemarie Allen

Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence (IREE)

When The Law Fails Families: The Human Cost of Detention

How Share Our Strength Funds The Fight Against Hunger

Behind The Scenes With the State Directors of No Kid Hungry

Children First: Why Early Nutrition Matters More Than Ever

About This Episode

Resources and Mentions:

Dr. Katie Queen

Dr. Rosemarie Allen

Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence (IREE)

Related Episodes

When The Law Fails Families: The Human Cost of Detention

How Share Our Strength Funds The Fight Against Hunger

Behind The Scenes With the State Directors of No Kid Hungry