Live Webinar on Tuesday, February 13 at 3:00 pm CST -
Did you miss it? Watch the recording and get the slides here!
Plant-forward, plant-based, plant everything– Is anyone wondering how to incorporate more plants without relying on an influx of processed or manufactured products?
Nutrition NOW has recipes and marketing tools for you! Boost your ADP with chef-created plant-forward recipes, including local ingredients and global flavors. As registered dietitian nutritionists, Chef Lindsey and Chef V will highlight the research supporting plant-forward meals and how adding plants + dairy is a powerful combination for increasing participation. The presentation will be split into program and student benefits, recipes, and a live culinary demo! The presentation will conclude with a district's success story. Join this webinar to see how the growing trend is positive for your department and healthy for your students! School nutrition can grow stronger by planting this practice and these creative recipes!
Presenter Bios:
Lindsey Schoenfeld, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and chef. She received her bachelor of science in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University. She is a culinary nutrition expert known for connecting and educating clients through community, creativity, and optimism. In her 16 years of nutrition experience, Schoenfeld has been an Operations Specialist for Dallas ISD, a Menu Planner for Lovejoy and Mesquite ISD, and a Director of Student Nutrition for Lovejoy ISD. Lindsey founded To Taste in 2015 with her business partner Vahista Ussery. The goal of To Taste is to help bridge the gap between medical advice and food, maintaining the fundamental belief that the best way to gain control of health is through cooking. In 2020, an Austin Food and Wine grant provided her with the resources to teach basic culinary nutrition skills to women and children moving from homelessness to independent lives. Schoenfeld is also a member of Chef Cyndie's K-12 Culinary Team. She helps with meal operational services, including menu planning, recipe engineering, video production, scratch and speed-scratch production, and work simplification and scheduling. Schoenfeld lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband Andrew and daughters Mabel and Hattie.
Vahista Ussery, MS, MBA, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and chef. She received her bachelor of science in coordinated dietetics from Texas Christian University. While attending TCU, she received her Culinary Arts Diploma. She went on to receive a Master of Science with a major in Food Systems Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman's University. In her 16 years, Ussery has been a Menu Planner for Dallas ISD, Dietitian Supervisor/Chef for Hurst Euless Bedford ISD, and a Child Nutrition Consultant at Education Service Center Region 11. During her time at Dallas ISD, she was invited to the White House to kick off Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign. Ussery founded To Taste in 2015 with her business partner Lindsey Schoenfeld. The goal of To Taste is to help bridge the gap between medical advice and food, maintaining the fundamental belief that the best way to gain control of health is through cooking. Ussery is a member of Chef Cyndie's K-12 Culinary Team. She helps with operational services, including menu planning, recipe engineering, video production, and scratch and speed scratch production. Ussery lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband Charlie and sons Enzo and Austin.
Diane Grodek serves as the Executive Chef for the Austin Independent School District. As Chef she creates new recipes, helps plan menus, maintains kitchen equipment, trains staff, works with students and the community teaching cooking and nutrition classes, and works on sustainability and morale initiatives for the Food Service Department. Diane spent 10 years working with The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Palm Beach, Florida and Austin, Texas, after studying at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. After work, Diane fills her time with her two high school kids, her husband, and her puppy Pepper. She enjoys entertaining at home, eating out, volunteering, and walking around neighborhoods near and far to look at houses. With a passion for cooking, reducing waste, and community involvement, her position as the Executive Chef of a progressive, inclusive school district is her dream job!
