Our Flagship program places a WITS Chef in a school two days/week for a full school year. During this placement, WITS Chefs:
- Train the school cooks side-by-side in their kitchens on the skills needed to prepare scratch-cooked, plant-forward and culturally inclusive recipes
- Work with the school community at large to form or support the Wellness Committee
- Teach children and families food education through our WITS Labs and WITS BITS
- Connect the changes on the lunch menu to the school wellness culture
WITS Labs
WITS Chefs lead WITS Labs, seasonal culinary and food education classes where students learn to prepare simple, affordable, healthy recipes they will then experience at lunch. During the 2025-2026 school year, our WITS Chefs reached over 33,000 students through our food education programs, including WITS Labs. WITS Labs establish the importance of healthy eating and seasonal ingredients, inspiring students to share their newly acquired knowledge with their families and loved ones, positively influencing children’s food preferences and behaviors.
WITS BITS
WITS BITS are engaging 20-minute classroom lessons that use hands-on demonstrations to emphasize basic nutrition concepts. WITS students eat 40% more fruits and vegetables than non-WITS students, and WITS BITS, like Fruit and Vegetable ID, support kids in discovering the new foods on their lunch tray. Is your school transitioning away from sugary drink options in the cafeteria? Our Sugar Overload WITS BIT gives students a visual comparison of sugary sodas and sports drinks versus water and low-sugar beverages.