The Chef Ann Foundation (CAF) is providing national support where it's needed, and right now school districts are scrambling just to meet the needs of their new remote feeding programs. Today, our school food service professionals are on the front lines of this crisis. They're working very long hours, creating makeshift cafeterias, and ensuring that our most vulnerable populations have food and nourishment. We are incredibly grateful for their service to our country.
In the United States, there are 50 million students enrolled in our public school system, and 30 million kids rely on school cafeterias for their daily meals. School closures impact families who depend on school meals for nourishment, which are predominantly people of color and households struggling to make ends meet.
We have developed a COVID-19 & School Food: Resources & Support webpage with links to our partner districts' remote feeding plans, along with topline information about federal guidance during this time. In addition, we have links to partner sites that provide other information and helpful resources for school food programs.
Well-nourished students have more energy, are able to focus for longer periods of time, and are better able to learn than those who are slowed down by empty calories and sugar crashes. The eating habits that children develop early in life will affect their diets - and their health - as adults. By changing the way children eat - and think about - food, we are helping to create a future generation of informed consumers and parents whose food choices will support sustainable, healthy food systems.
