K-12 Free Curriculum Resources

The Culinary Trust and IACP Kids in the Kitchen Section have partnered to collect and review free k-12 food and cooking curriculum.  Over the next year we hope to develop this resource into a larger crowd sourced reviewer database of free resources to support the Chefs Move to Schools Initiative

Our Review Team

Melissa Graham, IACP Kids in the Kitchen Co-Chair

Melissa Graham, a former attorney, is the founding Executive Director of Purple Asparagus, an award-winning 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to educating families about all things associated with good eating, eating that’s good for the body and the planet. Though its Delicious Nutritious Adventures program, Purple Asparagus has taught thousands of parents and children about healthful, sustainable eating in schools, community centers, and farmers’ markets throughout Chicago and the suburbs.

Julie Negrin, Kids in the Kitchen Co-Chair

Julie Negrin, M.S., is a certified nutritionist, cooking instructor, and author of Easy Meals to Cook with Kids. She has been teaching adults and children how to cook for fifteen years. Julie is the Director of Education at the Sylvia Center in New York City and spent five years as the Director of Culinary Arts at the JCC in Manhattan where she developed recipes and curricula specifically for children. She has appeared on Sesame Street and the Today Show with Al Roker.

Lynn Walters is Executive Director of Cooking with Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization that works to improve child nutrition by engaging elementary school children in hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods from diverse cultural traditions. The organization currently provides programming for over 4,900 kindergarten through sixth grade students in low-income Santa Fe public schools. Prior to founding Cooking with Kids, Lynn was a restaurateur in Santa Fe for seventeen years.

Elaine Smit is the founder of Chow Bella Kids. A business dedicated to providing cooking events just for kids and teens. I teach children that cooking is a lifelong skill by offering a hands-on cooking experience where they learn, laugh and cook. I believe that kitchens are magical places where kids should explore and learn to create wonderful and nutritious food with their family and friends.

Nancy Ziegler is the founder of Verdura Consulting, a culinary education consultancy in New York City.

Diane Ganci is an accomplished Executive Chef, Culinary Innovator and Consultant with over 20 years experience developing innovative, healthy menus and recipes for the K-12 market. With a passion for authentic, ethnic and regional cuisines.

Lois Levine, director of Culinary Kids established in 2005, runs a culinary program for children of elementary age,primarily after school programs. She is also on the board of Purple Asparagus and in Les Dames D’Escoffier.  Lois holds a BS Food & Nutrition and a Masters in Education.

Toria Emas is the Administration Director for The Chicago Bar Association with a multifaceted foodservice background including teaching, training and Chefs Move to Schools.  She is a past president of Les Dames d’Escoffier International and active in various food and wine societies.