“We believe food should be a discovery, an adventure, and that kids learn more when they’re experiencing something versus simply taking in information. Our promotions and food education programs are built on this belief and designed to provide engaging and impactful food discovery experiences.” – Belinda Oakley, CEO, Chartwells K12

Through our innovative and award-winning programs, Chartwells builds unique experiences to meet students’ wants and needs. Today’s students, Generation Z, are more interested in the experiential aspects of dining than ever before. That means simply serving meals won’t cut it. We inspire students to engage and participate by offering great food in a fun atmosphere.

Our Discovery Kitchen platform allows us to integrate nutrition education and cooking demonstrations with our promotional calendar through dynamic monthly themes, connecting the lessons students learn with delicious dishes in the cafeteria and at home.

To help students make a connection between what they eat and how they feel, Chartwells created Mood Boost. Designed for elementary and middle school students, this program features fun characters that focus on six moods: Strong, Alert, Happy, Calm, Smart and Confident. Concept menus prominently feature ingredients linked to positive impact in students’ moods.