Instagram story viewer> @chefannfoundation> Posts

Chef Ann Foundation

@chefannfoundation

7.8K

followers

1147

following

We get schools cooking. We've reached 19,000 schools in all 50 states, bringing better meals to 5.9 million kids.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

We have high standards for school meals. So should you.

Mike and Mara recently sat down to discuss the state of school meals meat and seafood in America, the benefits of buying local, and how investing in school food professionals makes a difference.

We’re so excited to partner together over the next three years by investing $150,000 in the Chef Ann Foundation’s work to transform school food standards, connecting with values-aligned producers and farmers, eliminating barriers and bringing more fresh, healthy meals to students across the country📚✏️🍎

#schoolmeals #scratchcooking #healthymeals #schooltime #schoollunch taken in School Cafeteria by @chefannfoundation

3

10

2 months ago

I’m happy to tell you that this week we are talking again about one of our favorite subjects — school food. It’s an area of the food world that is rapidly evolving, and one that has deep meaning to many of us. You’ve heard Kate and me talk about it often, both casually and in interviews.

The Chef Ann Foundation (@chefannfoundation) was founded in 2009, when chef and “renegade lunch lady” Ann Cooper joined forces with Mara Fleishman, a nationally recognized leader in food systems transformation and parent of three who’d spent more than a decade at Whole Foods as their Global Director of Partnerships.

Mara, our guest today, is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Chef Ann Foundation, which helps schools replace ultraprocessed foods with fresh and cooked-from-scratch meals — meals that are better for our kids and better for our environment. Since its foundation, Chef Ann has reached more than 19,000 schools, 35,000 school food professionals, and almost 6 million students with their initiatives to make school food healthier, tastier, and more sustainable.

As you can probably tell, Mara is an inspiration, and I’m thankful every day that we have people like her and like Ann who are leading such a crucial charge.

Search “Food with Mark Bittman” wherever you podcast to listen, or tap the link in my bio. by @chefannfoundation

454

13

a month ago

Students around the U.S. are heading back to school, and a nonprofit supported by our partners at @elevateprize is helping keep millions of them nourished with scratch-made meals to fuel their learning, mental health, and more.

➡️ Swipe to learn more about how (and why!) @chefannfoundation is helping thousands of schools make the switch from highly processed school lunch, to kid-approved meals made from scratch

🥕 And to check out their School Food Advocacy Toolkit, comment “link” and we’ll dm it to you by @chefannfoundation

6k

42

a month ago

Only one week left to apply for a Bulk Milk equipment grant!

Schools nationwide can apply for a grant package that includes a bulk milk dispenser, stand, reusable cups, dish racks, marketing materials, and technical assistance.

Bulk milk dispensers reduce packaging and liquid milk waste and improve the freshness and taste of milk being served. 🥛

Learn more and apply by October 9. 🔗 in bio.

#SchoolMeals #SustainableLunchrooms #BulkMilk by @chefannfoundation

4

0

2 days ago

We were honored to host our Lt Governor Kim Driscoll @massltgov and our esteemed community partners

Commonwealth Kitchen (CWK), in partnership with the MA Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), is the first and only approved food manufacturer in MA authorized to process USDA commodity ingredients for K-12 schools. By combining USDA commodity goods with fresh, Mass-grown tomatoes and local produce, we manufacture high-quality, ready-to-use sauces for school cafeterias.

For its inaugural 2026–27 pilot year, the initiative is producing sauces for 89 school districts across Massachusetts, reaching nearly 20% of all public school districts in the Commonwealth! 📈

CWK Board member Rob Williams kicked off an insightful panel discussion featuring:

CWK CEO @jenfaigel1
MJ Kepner – @chefannfoundation
Annie Broad – @bostonfoodhub
Simca Horwitz – @massfarmtoschool
State Representative Chris Worrell @brochris4boston,

We were also proud to welcome State Senator Liz Miranda @replizmiranda, and representatives from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office, The Kendall Foundation, and Boston Public Schools, alongside many other dedicated community leaders.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to champion local food systems and fresh, nutritious meals for our kids! 🙌

To find out more check out the link in out LinkTree.

Swipe through for a recap of yesterday’s visit! 📸

Food by CWK members : @freshfoodgeneration
@clarkescakesandcookies
@the.real.chai

@Bostonsstreettacos and @thecatchingfaith also had a chance to have to Lt Gov sample some of their menus.

#FeedingFutures #MassGrown #FarmToSchool #K12Nutrition #CommunityImpact #Massachusetts #SchoolMeals taken in Dorchester by @chefannfoundation

48

3

3 days ago

60

5

3 days ago

We all have a right to know what's in our food. We applaud Governor Gavin Newsom (@cagovernor) for signing a new bill this week that makes it easier for Californians to be informed consumers by introducing the nation's first non-ultraprocessed foods label.

We were honored to stand with a powerful coalition of advocates who signed on in support of this bill. It's the latest in California's recent legislation to improve food system transparency, reduce ultraprocessed foods, and get more healthy meals to kids and their families.

Thank you to Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (@asmjessegabriel) for his leadership, and to the Newsom Administration and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom (@jennifersiebelnewsom) for their continued commitment to elevating healthier food as part of their holistic approach to healthcare.

Creating a healthy food system is something we have to tackle at school and at home. California is modeling how policy can help us get more fresh, nourishing meals to kids, whether they're in the cafeteria or at the kitchen table.

#CaliforniaNews #FoodReform #UltraprocessedFoods by @chefannfoundation

55

3

4 days ago

Grant Opportunity 📣

Last week, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health (@nihgov) launched Defining Evidence for Programs to Ensure Nutrition for Development (DEPEND), a funding opportunity to help schools serve healthier meals, overcome operational hurdles, and boost scratch cooking.

Grants are available for public schools, charter schools, districts, and Food Authorities—up to 50 projects funded. Apply by October 13, 2026. You can learn more about this grant here and apply at the 🔗 in our bio.

#ScratchCooking #SchoolFoodService #GrantFunding by @chefannfoundation

18

0

5 days ago

Good food. Big ideas. Meaningful action.

Last week, Chobani and Chef Ann Foundation brought together an inspiring group of leaders, changemakers, and food advocates to discuss one important question: How can we create lasting solutions to food insecurity?

Over great conversation and a shared meal, we explored ideas, perspectives, and opportunities to build a more equitable food system—one where every child has access to nourishing food and the opportunity to thrive.

Because progress happens when great minds come together, listen, collaborate, and turn ideas into action. by @chefannfoundation

433

43

6 days ago

There’s still time to apply for the next Get Schools Cooking cohort, but don’t wait too long. ⏲️

Need some inspiration? Hear from 2025 Get Schools Cooking graduate and School Food Director Jackie Cruz from Brownsville Independent School District in Texas as she shares advice on why districts should take a chance on moving to preparing meals from more fresh and whole ingredients, and tips for where to start.

Want to learn more or apply? Visit the link in our bio and submit your application by September 30.

#GetSchoolsCooking #SchoolFoodTransformation #SchoolLunch #ScratchCooking by @chefannfoundation

20

3

7 days ago

A new way to support our mission to get schools cooking so they can provide fresh, healthy meals to kids is on the horizon. 👀

Stay tuned for our big announcement next week! by @chefannfoundation

63

4

8 days ago

Congress has the opportunity to provide school districts with the funding they need to cook fresh meals from scratch and pay school food professionals fair wages.

Reintroduced by Senators @senatormartinheinrich and @andykimnj, the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act will permanently increase federal school meal reimbursement rates, giving schools more financial flexibility to invest in fresh ingredients and trained staff. With this funding, schools across the nation could start the important work of replacing ultraprocessed foods with scratch-made meals.

Click on the 🔗 in our bio to send a message to your Member of Congress, urging them to pass this important bill.

#SchoolFoodReform #HealthySchoolMeals #HealthyMealsHelpKidsLearnAct by @chefannfoundation

21

0

9 days ago