Yum-o! Director Attends Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids Kick-off Summit

In May 2011, Yum-o!’s director Andrew Kaplan was honored to attend a kick-off summit held on the campus of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in San Antonio, TX on behalf of Rachael Ray and Yum-o!. Called Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids, this two-day gathering of chefs, foodservice directors, child advocates and others launched a national initiative to improve the health of children and young people through food education, culinary strategy and flavor insight.

Attendees came from near and far to talk about personal experiences in educating today’s youth as well as their visions for moving forward. In attendance were such notables as White House Chef and Policy Advisor Sam Kass, who spoke on behalf of the First Lady and her Let’s Move! initiative; Janey Thornton, Deputy Undersecretary of the USDA and a true advocate in her own regard. Others in attendance included Dr. David Ludwig of Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard; Chefs Rick Bayless and Suvir Saran.

From chefs to foodservice directors, participants shared their sucesses as well as the challenges with their specific programs. It was a place to share triumphs and adversities and to meet new people doing great things for children around the whole country. "This was a very important event that will take place on a yearly basis and one that can help shape the future of today’s youth," said Andrew. "I salute the commitment to healthy children by all who were involved and was honored to be a part of it."

Visit the Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids website to learn more about this initiative.