First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Chefs Move to Schools Coalition and Website in Dallas
Tom Colicchio, “Top Chef” chef’testants and members of the Dallas Cowboys join the First Lady and students for a healthy cook-off
Dallas, Texas (February 10, 2012)—First Lady Michelle Obama today unveiled new efforts to expand the Chefs Move to Schools program, which helps chefs and schools team up to educate children about healthy food choices.
Joined by renowned chef Tom Colicchio, six “Top Chef” chef’testants and members of the Dallas Cowboys at Kleberg/Rylie Recreation Center in Dallas, Mrs. Obama participated in a “Top Chef”-style cook-off with students from the Dallas Independent School District, which has earned more HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Awards than any other district in the country.
The first lady also unveiled a new Chefs Move to Schools website, www.chefsmovetoschools.org. The site is a one-stop shop for chefs and schools, allowing them to sign up for the program; access training, recipes and resources; and learn how chefs and schools across the country are partnering to create healthier school environments.
“Chefs Move to Schools has been a huge success with thousands of chefs teaming up with schools to prepare healthier meals and teach students about healthy eating, and now we’re excited to take this program to the next level,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.
“ChefsMoveToSchools.org will make it even easier for chefs to connect with schools and share ideas with each other. So I’m counting on chefs and schools across our country to go to the website, sign up, and start cooking!”
The site was created thanks to a new coalition of leading culinary, nutrition and school organizations that will oversee the Chefs Move to Schools program. Leading the coalition is the American Culinary Federation and School Nutrition Association. Also joining is Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs (BEN), The Culinary Trust, Harvard School of Public Health, International Corporate Chefs Association, SupermarketGuru|The Lempert Report, National Food Service Management Institute, Partnership for a Healthier America, Share Our Strength and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Getting chefs into schools to teach kids more about eating healthy is a hands-on way to encourage these good habits early,” said Drew Nannis, PHA director of communications and marketing. “Already thousands of chefs have signed on and are working in schools across the country. Now they can connect online to share information and tips about what works, how kids are responding and what they like and don’t like. PHA is pleased to be part of this innovative coalition to end childhood obesity within a generation.”
The Chefs Move to Schools program began in June 2010 as part of the Let’s Move! initiative, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. Through the program, chefs partner with schools in their communities and work with teachers, parents and school nutrition professionals to help educate kids about food and nutrition. The goal of the program is to promote chefs as the catalyst for creating a new nation of child food advocates and start turning the tide on unhealthy eating behaviors.
Approximately 3,400 chefs and 3,350 schools across the nation have signed up for the program to date. Together, chefs and schools have developed gardens, introduced salad bars to cafeterias, created healthier school meal recipes, hosted educational demonstrations and empowered kids with the knowledge they need to make healthy decisions.
Visit www.chefsmovetoschools.org today to learn more or to register as an official participant.
About Partnership for a Healthier America
The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation’s youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with – but independent from – First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that is led by some of the nation’s most respected health and childhood obesity experts. PHA brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most important, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased, third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress our partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.
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