First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Chefs Move to Schools Coalition and Website in Dallas

Tom Colicchio, "Top Chef" chef'testants and members of the Dallas Cowboys join the First Lady and students for a healthy cook-off

DALLAS, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Lady Michelle Obama today unveiled new efforts to expand the Chefs Move to Schools program, which helps chefs and schools team up to educate children about healthy food choices.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120210/DC51114)

Joined by renowned chef Tom Colicchio, six "Top Chef" chef'testants and members of the Dallas Cowboys at Kleberg/Rylie Recreation Center in Dallas, Mrs. Obama participated in a "Top Chef"-style cook-off with students from the Dallas Independent School District, which has earned more HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Awards than any other district in the country.

The first lady also unveiled a new Chefs Move to Schools website, www.chefsmovetoschools.org. The site is a one-stop shop for chefs and schools, allowing them to sign up for the program; access training, recipes and resources; and learn how chefs and schools across the country are partnering to create healthier school environments.

"Chefs Move to Schools has been a huge success with thousands of chefs teaming up with schools to prepare healthier meals and teach students about healthy eating, and now we're excited to take this program to the next level," said First Lady Michelle Obama. "ChefsMoveToSchools.org will make it even easier for chefs to connect with schools and share ideas with each other. So I'm counting on chefs and schools across our country to go to the website, sign up, and start cooking!"

The site was created thanks to a new coalition of leading culinary, nutrition and school organizations that will oversee the Chefs Move to Schools program. Leading the coalition are the American Culinary Federation and School Nutrition Association. Also joining are Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs (BEN),The Culinary Trust, Harvard School of Public Health, International Corporate Chefs Association, SupermarketGuru|The Lempert Report, National Food Service Management Institute, Partnership for a Healthier America, Share Our Strength and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Chefs Move to Schools program began in June 2010 as part of the Let's Move! initiative, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. Through the program, chefs partner with schools in their communities and work with teachers, parents and school nutrition professionals to help educate kids about food and nutrition. The goal of the program is to promote chefs as the catalyst for creating a new nation of child food advocates and start turning the tide on unhealthy eating behaviors.

Approximately 3,400 chefs and 3,350 schools across the nation have signed up for the program to date. Together, chefs and schools have developed gardens, introduced salad bars to cafeterias, created healthier school meal recipes, hosted educational demonstrations and empowered kids with the knowledge they need to make healthy decisions.

Visit www.chefsmovetoschools.org today to learn more or to register as an official participant.

About the American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 20,000 members spanning more than 210 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States, with the Certified Executive Chef^® designation the only culinary credential accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org. Find ACF on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ACFChefs and on Twitter @ACFChefs.

About the School Nutrition Association
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about today's school meals, visit www.TrayTalk.org.

Media Contacts:
Patricia Carroll, ACF: 904-484-0247, [email protected]
Diane Pratt-Heavner, SNA: 301-686-3124, [email protected]

SOURCE The American Culinary Federation, Inc.

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