About
In partnership with the New York City Department of Education’s Office of SchoolFood, Wellness in the Schools operates the Cook for Kids program in public school cafeterias and classrooms. In an effort to combat childhood obesity and to promote healthy eating, Wellness in the Schools places our WITS in Residence Cooks in schools to prepare fresh meals from scratch, engage students, and educate families about the importance of eating whole, unprocessed foods. Inspired by the model of Teach for America, the program that trains talented college graduates to teach in public schools, WITS invests in graduates of culinary schools to serve as team members to cafeteria staff, allies for parents and teachers, and mentors for students. In many schools the cooks also conduct seasonal cooking classes and offer regular demonstrations to teach children, parents and teachers how to cook delicious, nutritious and inexpensive recipes, using fresh local ingredients whenever possible. WITS also partners with local chefs and restaurants, who work with the WITS in Residence Cooks to get students excited about healthy eating and offer WITS consultation and promotional support.
