California Voices #1
June 17, 2024
Welcome to the first edition of California Voices! Here, we’re featuring how some of social media’s most powerful voices, including parents, teachers, a collegiate student-athlete, a School Food Professional, and even a best-selling cookbook author, are sharing their perspective on how School Food Professionals are transforming school food and supporting students across California.
Our California Voices series will continue to highlight people who are sharing their personal stories and experiences with the contribution and impact made by School Food Professionals.
See the buzz for yourself and join the conversation with #CASchoolFoodPros and #PoweredBySchoolFoodPros on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Best-Selling Cookbook Author and James Beard Award-Winner Joanne Molinaro
Times have changed since Joanne, also known as @thekoreanvegan, was eating school food. Now, School Food Professionals are making kimchi! Joanne shares how incorporating more food from different cultures into school meals helps students feel welcomed and included.
School Food Professional TJ
School Food Professional TJ is part of the movement to improve school food. Through her work, she’s seen firsthand how professionals are incorporating more fresh ingredients and scratch cooking into their school menus.
Teacher Noelle Cheney
Teacher and self-proclaimed school lunch connoisseur Noelle celebrates how School Food Professionals do more than just cook healthy, delicious meals. They’re also an integral part of the school community, building positive relationships with students.
Collegiate Student-Athlete Haily Huynh
Haily, a student-athlete at UC Irvine, shouts out the School Food Professionals whose healthy school meals helped her to be ready to compete — on and off the court.
Author and Mother Ellie Hunja
Free school breakfast and lunch has changed the game for Ellie, an author and mother. Beyond making sure her kids have access to healthy meals, School Food Professionals have also helped her 5-year-old with sensory issues expand his palate by introducing recipes like fresh salads, fish po’boys and pupusas.
Speech-Language Pathologist Judy Lemon
Speech-language pathologist Judy shares how good-for-you food is vital to her students’ learning experience.