Chef Ann Foundation

We can't stop thinking about our recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska. Since it's National Farm to School Month, can we gush about it to you? Our team met with the Anchorage School District, Copper River Seafood & Alaska Food Co., and the Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) grantee team in Alaska. Their project focuses on boosting local food purchases, increasing scratch cooking, and crafting culturally inclusive meals that reflect the district's vibrant diversity, where over 100 languages converge! During our visit, we strategized with Anchorage School District staff about optimizing their incredible central kitchen facility to produce more scratch-cooked and locally sourced meals, learned about the benefits of freeze-drying food in a climate with such a short growing season, and toured Copper River Seafood’s astounding processing facility. Did you know the Anchorage School District serves around 30,000 meals daily across 84 schools? This presents a phenomenal opportunity to positively influence students' health and education! We are excited to partner with them over the next three years to implement a cutting-edge local seafood procurement strategy that honors their community's distinctive geography and culture. For more inspiring insights into the fantastic work happening in Anchorage, check out this blog from the National Farm to School Network: https://ow.ly/yQOq50TTwwj

In the early 2000s, Chef Ann and her school food colleagues began sharing experiences and knowledge about how to transform school lunches from processed, heat-and-serve meals to healthy, tasty ones. Chef Ann secured funding and launched The Lunch Box in 2010, which was and continues to be the largest FREE database of healthy cooking materials for school food professionals. As we look ahead into the 15th year of The Lunch Box, the Chef Ann Foundation will continue to push the envelope and offer new resources and operational content every year for anyone to access. Check out The Lunch Box TODAY! https://lnkd.in/eaqBp7N3

Are you passionate about ensuring that your child receives healthy school food every day? From inspiration to the basics of school food, we provide parent advocacy resources and everything you need to help improve the food in your child's school district. Take a look at the School Food Advocacy Toolkit: https://ow.ly/iCMP50TLKfO

Want to ensure school food change for the next 15 years? Donate today and help transform school kitchens across the country. Now through December 31st, a private family foundation will generously match all donations up to $25,000 to reduce food waste in schools by supporting our Bulk Milk program. Donate now: https://ow.ly/UwyW50TL33g

🙏Thank you, Action for Healthy Kids, for hosting us at the 2024 Fall Healthy Meals Summit! We had an incredible experience learning new ways to support our network of partners, community organizations, and schools in their efforts to improve school meal programs. 🥗 It’s inspiring to see the amazing work being done by dedicated individuals across the country to help ensure that every student has access to nutritious, healthy meals. Together, we’re making a difference! Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) Curtis Aikens Chef Ann Foundation #HMIFallSummit #HealthyMealsIncentives #SchoolNutrition #SchoolMeals

We’re on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our dynamic team! Currently hiring for several full-time, remote positions, including: 🥦 Accounting Coordinator 🥦 Senior Coordinator of PLANTS 🥦 Senior Director of West Coast Operations This is your chance to make a difference in school food while working from anywhere! Curious to learn more and ready to take the leap? https://lnkd.in/eUh37bmC

We loved seeing our team in action at USDA’s Fall 2024 Healthy Meals Summit! Executive Director of School Food Operations Lori Nelson and Senior Operations Specialist Josh Mathiasmeier, RD presented “Leading Through Change.” Our fearless leader, Chef Ann Cooper, delivered the closing session! What an amazing experience and fantastic event! We are leaving energized to keep the momentum towards healthy school meals for all going! We could not do this work without our awesome partners Action for Healthy Kids and school districts nationwide!

The USDA rolled out the red carpet for this year’s Fall #HealthyMealsSummit in Las Vegas. The Marshall County Schools (Alabama) team were among honorees to receive 2023-24 recognition awards. We were recognized for “Innovation in Nutrition Education” for our students. It was great to hear so many amazing stories from Nutrition Champions across the nation and make some special connections with people passionate about the work they do. Chef Ann Foundation Action for Healthy Kids

Central kitchens for school districts support better tasting, higher quality food, a better bottom line, and regional agriculture. There are several benefits, including: 👩🍳 Increased meal consistency & quality control 👩🍳 Reduced production & labor costs 👩🍳Opportunities for partnership & business development Boulder Valley School District decided it would need a central kitchen after an assessment of food services was completed and presented to the school board in 2008. In April of 2019, the food service department broke ground on the new Culinary Center. Boulder Valley has been considered a model district for scratch cooking because of Chef Ann's influence on the district during her time as their Food Service Director. Interested in learning more about the central kitchen in Boulder? Watch HERE: https://lnkd.in/eGJqU2_9

I spent the past few days celebrating school meals and scratch cooking a the #HMIFallSummit hosted by Action for Healthy Kids 🍎🥬 Yesterday I was joined by two Nutrition Directors to speak about serving local food in schools and our work across the state with funding from the PLANTS Grant managed by Chef Ann Foundation 🫛🍒