The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded $250,000 in grants to support youth cooking and nutrition education in schools.
The grants, part of the foundation’s Get Kids Cooking initiative, will benefit approximately 7,000 students across 25 schools. These programs aim to teach students essential skills for preparing healthy meals and snacks, fostering a positive connection with nutritious eating.
“Hands-on experiences preparing fresh food help children build valuable skills and learn to enjoy healthy eating,” said Lyndsey Waugh, executive director of the foundation. “These lessons also bring subjects like science, math, and problem-solving to life, making learning more exciting and engaging.”
The selected schools were chosen from more than 1,300 nominations submitted by customers of Sprouts Farmers Market during the Get Kids Cooking contest held in January. Each winning school will receive educational materials and supplies needed to run a student cooking program.
Each of the 25 schools will receive a $10,000 grant, which includes a mobile cooking cart, small kitchen appliances, essential tools, classroom-friendly recipes, and gift cards to purchase fresh ingredients from Sprouts. Additionally, each program will receive a stipend for the teacher leading the program.
Janet Ankrum, a middle school teacher at Catalina Ventura School in Phoenix, expressed excitement about the grant. “This funding will energize our culinary science program and help us provide cooking experiences for all 450 students throughout the year,” she said. “It’s truly a dream come true for our students.”
Since 2015, Sprouts has supported school-based gardening and cooking programs, recognizing the importance of growing, tasting, and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables in shaping a child’s long-term healthy eating habits. The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation expects to fund nutrition education programs that will reach around 3 million children this year.
