A National Initiative to Advance Culinary-Driven, Healthy, Flavorful Foods for Kids. Visit us online at: www.ciahealthykids.com
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)—a private, not-for-profit culinary college widely regarded as the world’s leading culinary college—has long been committed to advancing healthier food choices in society. Since 2004 the CIA has been working with partners at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Department of Nutrition on national and international initiatives that promote healthful eating.
Worlds of Healthy Flavors® (www.ciaprochef.com/wohf/), co-presented by the CIA and HSPH, is an invitational leadership retreat for menu-decision makers from the top volume foodservice operations in the country (including chain restaurants, colleges & universities, contract foodservice, and supermarkets). The three-day event held every January at the CIA at Greystone in Napa Valley, California, focuses on our nation’s most pressing public health issues, and presents ideas for delicious, healthful menu options. Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives® (www.healthykitchens.org) is a continuing medical education (CME) conference co-presented by the CIA, HSPH, and the Samueli Institute that prepares healthcare professionals from a wide range of disciplines to talk with their patients and clients about food, culinary, and lifestyle choices that promote better health. The four-day event, held every spring at the CIA’s Napa Valley campus, includes lectures, culinary demonstrations, hands-on kitchen sessions, and workshops that are all designed to make attendees role models for healthy eating and cooking for their families, patients, and colleagues. Menus of Change® (www.menusofchange.org) is a ground-breaking initiative launched by the CIA and HSPH in 2012 to create a long-term, practical vision for the integration of optimal nutrition and public health, environmental stewardship and restoration, and social responsibility concerns within the foodservice sector and beyond. The initiative—including the annual leadership summit, Menus of Change annual report, and the Principles of Healthy, Sustainable Menus—will focus on the creation of new business strategies and models to support successive stages of innovation and entrepreneurship in anticipation of a global population that will reach 9 billion by 2050. In September 2010, the CIA made a commitment to launch a nationwide initiative aimed at improving the quality of foods and beverages made available to children in a variety of settings. The CIA Healthy Kids initiative launched with a three-day national leadership summit at the CIA, San Antonio campus, in May 2011. This inaugural event brought together nearly 200 leaders from chain restaurants, campus dining, supermarkets, food manufacturers, commodity boards, and school foodservice to discuss and debate a wide range of issues that are impacting the quality and flavor of foods for children. A similar event was held in May 2012. Based on audience feedback from the 2012 event, the college made a decision to narrow the focus of the initiative. The CIA Healthy Kids initiative now focuses on culinary insights and training for K-12 school foodservice operations. The core of the CIA Healthy Kids initiative is culinary insights and actions around K-12 school foodservice. The CIA looks to enhance the role of America's chefs as leaders and change agents, principally by better equipping them with the understanding and tools they will need to be more effective in transforming the food environment for children, youth, and their families.
10/06/2025
Have you registered? It's TOMORROW!
Town Hall - Reflecting on this Past Year and Planning for the Future
Join us on June 11th as school nutrition leaders from across the country gather to network and discuss solutions-focused ideas for next school year. This will be a great time to connect with other school nutrition leaders as well as tips and tricks to innovate your school menus with scratch cooking methods. During the hour, a large portion of the time will be spent in breakout rooms so participants can discuss ideas for next school year.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGD4Rl1_UL5_4xk69OA4f6DV7pp0OMxWMUawHp4EicQA1xWA/viewform
27/05/2025
🎬 We’re thrilled to share the recap video from the Urban School Food Alliance annual Cooking for Healthy Kids Culinary Training, hosted at The Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio, TX earlier this spring!
Developed by members of the CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative, Cooking for Healthy Kids is designed to empower school nutrition professionals with hands-on culinary skills and nutrition-focused techniques. This year, chef trainers Catharine Powers, RD, and Rachel Petraglia supported the immersive training experience—witnessing firsthand the passion and innovation each participant brought to the kitchen.
We’re excited to see how these dedicated professionals will bring what they’ve learned back to their school districts—creating healthier, more delicious meals for students across the country.
Watch the highlights and celebrate the impact of culinary education in school food!
At CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative (HKC), we believe the best school meals start with teamwork. 💪🍽️ Through our unique recipe collaboration process, HKC brings together school districts and industry leaders to co-create healthy, culinary-forward recipes that students truly love.
From bold global flavors to creative twists on classics, these recipes are designed with both nutrition and student appeal in mind. This is just one of the many ways HKC helps schools serve up meals that nourish, excite, and inspire.
🎥 Check out just one of the amazing collaborations happening Garland ISD Student Nutrition Services in the video below—real teamwork, real flavor, and real impact.
CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative is an educational initiative of The Culinary Institute of America. To learn more check out our website: www.CIAHealthyKids.com
02/05/2025
🌟 Happy School Nutrition Hero Day! 🍎🥄
Today, we proudly celebrate the everyday heroes behind the scenes in our schools — our incredible school nutrition professionals. From the early morning prep to the final lunch tray served, you’re doing so much more than feeding students — you’re nourishing minds, supporting learning, and building healthier futures.
Every single day, you provide healthy, delicious meals to over 30 million students across the country. You do it with heart, hustle, and a commitment that often goes unseen — but never unappreciated. Whether you're menu planning, chopping veggies, serving with a smile, or cleaning up after the lunch rush, YOU are making a difference.
We know your job isn’t easy. It takes skill, creativity, and resilience to do what you do — and we see you. Today, and every day, we say:
THANK YOU.
You are appreciated.
You are valued.
And you are deeply loved. 💛
15/04/2025
The Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Kids Collaborative is a year-round, invitational initiative designed to both accelerate innovation and deepen technical and professional expertise in K-12 school food. It is a unique and focused multi-year collaboration between school nutrition professionals, school chefs, suppliers, and other stakeholders to create and promote culinary-driven, healthier foods for kids.
The CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative will leverage the combined
expertise and experience of members, corporate members, and
invited content experts with the goals of discovering flavor and menu strategies, highlighting successes and best practices, and developing training protocols and resources. The Collaborative will work collectively to explore culinary solutions to increase the availability and acceptance of healthy foods in schools, engage with leading suppliers and stakeholders to gain insights and ideas and to influence solutions, and share insights and solutions widely with school districts across the United States.
Our CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative Corporate members Arctic Apples and Operator members Jennifer McNabb Miller and Chef Kevin Jenkins of Garland ISD Student Nutrition Services teamed up to bring creative flavors to Kimberlin Elementary! Together, they introduced three delicious, apple-inspired recipes:
🥪 Apple & Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese – A sweet-savory spin on a classic.
🥤 Apple Pie Smoothie – Creamy, spiced, and packed with apple goodness.
🥐 Spiced Apple Kolache – A Texas-inspired pastry with warm apple flavors.
Students lit up as they enjoyed these dishes reminding us why we do this—making healthy food fun, accessible, and delicious!
Let’s keep inspiring young minds and taste buds together! 🍎✨
🌟 Huge Congratulations to CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative Operator Member Jessica Shelly & Cincinnati Public Schools! 🌟
We’re thrilled to celebrate Jessica Shelly and her incredible team at CPS for receiving not just one, but five prestigious Healthy Meals Incentives - AFHK (HMI) awards! 🏆✨
CPS is one of only five districts in Ohio to earn this national recognition—and the only district in the state to take home multiple honors! Out of 284 awards given nationwide, CPS stands out as a true leader in school nutrition innovation.
🥕 Awarded for:
✅ Innovation in Nutrition Education
✅ Innovation in the Preparation of School Meals
✅ Innovation in the Cultural Diversity of School Meals
✅ Innovative School Lunch Makeover
✅ Lunch Trailblazer
Your dedication to nourishing students with creativity, cultural inclusivity, and forward-thinking approaches is truly inspiring. 🎉👏
Join us in celebrating CPS and Jessica Shelly for setting the bar high in school nutrition! 🍎🥗
In our recent session, we had the privilege of hearing from CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative member Sandy Curwood, who shared how state agencies and school districts are collaborating to strengthen school nutrition programs. Laura Hatch from Healthy Meals Incentives - AFHK provided valuable insights into their awards program and how you can join in celebrating this fall in Las Vegas. Our main session delved into how behavioral economics can drive sustainable food choices in K-12 schools, featuring Sheryl Allen. Sheryl explored the use of behavioral science in corporate dining and how choice architecture can encourage healthier eating habits in school settings.
18/03/2025
🎉 Exciting news from the Powered by School Food Professionals Awards!
Last week, Operator member, Juan Jose Zamorano and Mary Tyranski, RD attended the event, where they were nominated for Best Culturally Relevant Recipe with their Overnight Roasted Birria—a recipe that first took shape as part of CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative. And guess what? They won! 🏆🎊
Congratulations to Juan and Mary of Sandi Coast Cafe and San Diego Unified School District for this well-deserved recognition! 👏👏
13/03/2025
🌟 Happy National Registered Dietitian Day! 🌟
We’re incredibly grateful to have so many dedicated RDs as operator members of the CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative. Your expertise, passion, and commitment to school nutrition are truly inspiring! From crafting nutritious, delicious menus to ensuring students have access to wholesome meals, your impact goes beyond the cafeteria—it helps shape lifelong healthy habits.
Thank you for all that you do to nourish and support our future generations. Your work is making a real difference in schools and communities every day! 💚🥦🍎
06/03/2025
Join us next Wednesday, March 12, for an interactive CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative (HKC) Webinar open to all school nutrition professionals!
We’ll hear from HKC member Sandy Curwood on how state agencies and school districts are working together to support school nutrition programs. Laura Hatch from Healthy Meals Incentives - AFHK will share insights on their awards program and how you can be part of the celebration in Las Vegas this fall.
Our main session will explore how behavioral economics can drive sustainable food choices in K-12, featuring Sheryl Allen. She will discuss the application of behavioral science in corporate dining and how choice architecture can encourage positive eating habits in schools.
It’s Day 2 of National School Breakfast Week, and we’re celebrating with a big shoutout to Operator Member Andrew Urbanetti, Assistant Director of Culinary at Boston Public Schools! BPS has been recognized with an Healthy Meals Incentives - AFHK Award for Breakfast Trailblazer and Innovation in Nutrition Education.
With 12 million students relying on school breakfast each day, this work is more important than ever. Congratulations, Andrew, for leading the way in nourishing kids and shaping healthier futures!
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