Stephanie Reed's Avatar
Stephanie Reed
Veggiecator Educator, New Jersey
Joining Veggiecation has been a rewarding, enriching and fun experience for me, as a professional and a mother. I’ve watched children’s views on vegetables and healthy eating transform from, “I don’t really like that.” to “Can I have some more, please!” in minutes. It’s great to be part of a diverse team that teaches children about their relationship with food in a creative, curriculum-based and hands-on way. Veggiecation has inspired me to bring my son into the kitchen as a sous chef. Always eager to try new foods, he is delighted to roll up his sleeves to help make our meals at home more special. Our time cooking together is an opportunity to expand his palate, improve his reading and math literacy, and build on the foundation of what I hope will become a lifelong love of vegetables and cooking.
TreVon White AKA Soul Vegan Diva's Avatar
TreVon White AKA Soul Vegan Diva
Veggiecator Educator, Texas
My ultimate goal is to teach families that they CAN prioritize healthy eating for the whole family and fit healthy living into the context of their busy lifestyle – and that it can be easy & fun. Veggication has by far been one the most simplistic yet still knowledgeable programs out there and it has helped me achieve my goal of creating a healthier Texas, one family at a time!
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Lori Drouin
Veggiecator Educator, New Jersey
As a dietitian and a mother of five I have always been passionate about children’s health and nutrition. I believe that teaching children at a young age how to.make healthy choices can only be beneficial. I love to watch the kids reaction when I come to their classrooms because they are so excited to learn about nutrition and can’t wait to take home the recipe and share it with their families. Veggiecation has allowed me to combine my knowledge and my passion and turn them into an incredible experience teaching in day care centers, activity centers, after school programs, summer camps, etc.
Judy Prager's Avatar
Judy Prager
Veggiecation Educator, Connecticut
I love being a Veggiecation educator! The kids really love helping make the food and then willingly try and enjoy the veggies. As a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who has worked with preschool children for more than 10 years I have seen children’s attitudes about food change when we expose them to new foods. Many children do not like a food simply because they have not been exposed to it due to cultural differences, financial inability or simply because nobody has served it to them before. When children participate in the preparation they are more likely to taste the food, and by telling them that it’s ok not to like it, but that they should taste it is very powerful. Veggiecation has proven to be a fun, educational way to teach children about vegetables and to actually taste and enjoy new foods or new ways to eat them. I just love working with the children and watching them expand their taste palate.
Kimmell Proctor's Avatar
Kimmell Proctor
Veggiecator Educator, Pennsylvania
I completed the online certification training a few months ago and it’s been a great complement to my health coaching niche of working with schools and youth organizations. Veggiecation’s training is quick & affordable and provides all the skills and tools to teach their healthy kids cooking classes. Best of all they provide all the business and marketing resources you need to help make extra money in your coaching business!
Laura Ross, MD's Avatar
Laura Ross, MD
Chair, Nutrition Committee of The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine
As a parent of three children at the Cathedral School, I have seen the Veggiecation program encourage my children to become more adventurous vegetable eaters. By “promoting” their vegetables to the rest of the school the kids learn about why vegetables are healthy and how they help their bodies develop and function. Allowing the children to take ownership of how the vegetables are prepared encourages them to try new vegetables. Serving children nutritionally balanced food is important, but educating them at same time about nutrition and how the body uses healthy foods will better ensure healthy eating habits in the future. Veggiecation accomplishes this goal while making the process fun!
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Anne Allen & Johnna Yeskey
Greenwich Country Day School
Veggiecation is about tasting. It’s about learning to try different foods that are nutritious, broadening the children’s perspectives. The children have been so excited! Their curiousity has been piqued: coming in at the beginning of every month, wondering what the next vegetable of the month will be. Students have been arriving at lunch so eager to learn what they would be having. We’ve worked to engage the entire Lower School in the program. It is very unifying to have one theme that everybody is focused on.
Rashad Blake's Avatar
Rashad Blake
Parent at West Side Y
I have recently brought my kids to Veggiecation and they enjoyed one of the food sections very much! I just wanted you to know the kids and I enjoy your program very much and your host makes it easier to do just that. She’s amazing! It is a pleasure for us to attend your classes with Tashya. Thank you and your program, and keep up the amazing work!
Marsha K. Nelson's Avatar
Marsha K. Nelson
Head of The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine
Veggiecation has been an exciting and engaging experience for all members of our community. The response from students, teachers, and parents has been tremendous. Students from Kindergarten through the 8th grade have expanded their tastes, and Veggiecation has empowered them to make healthy choices when it comes to their diet. Most importantly, this program has brought a new element of fun into the lunch hour, while teaching students to be responsible eaters. Whether working with parents and staff members on our Nutrition Committee, helping teachers integrate Veggication into their classroom curriculum, or designing meal plans with our food services department, it has been a pleasure to partner with Lisa Suriano. I would not hesitate to recommend Veggication or Lisa to any educator looking for an innovative way to inspire children to lead healthier lifestyles.
Charlotta Turner's Avatar
Charlotta Turner
PS 75 Afterschool Coordinator
We are so happy with your program and with Maurie. You have delivered such a wonderful program/product. The children and families are very pleased and we have had a great response again in Winter session registration for cooking. Thank you so much for a great experience so far with Veggiecation!
Beth Reed's Avatar
Beth Reed
Wellness Coordinator and Elementary Educator at PS 146
Veggiecation offers me the tools I need to teach a comprehensive curriculum based on vegetables, but all while tying in key content areas such as math, reading and writing. I love seeing my students apply standard bases skills to real world content such as making healthy choices! Veggiecation brings the classroom to life all while students are engaged in a rigorous learning environment.
Stephen Ritz's Avatar
Stephen Ritz
Educator, Administrator and Founder of Green Bronx Machine
Veggiecation is the single handed best nutrition and cooking education program I have ever encountered to date in all my years with DOE. The program is 100% applicable grades K-12, day care and for intergenerational programming with Seniors as well as teenage parents with their children. Lisa’s program features over 100 culturally relevant recipes, literacy, art, music in a highly interactive, wholly inclusive model; multiple languages available! EVEN BETTER is the price point for access to schools, community centers, senior centers, etc. with support. BEYOND THAT, when combined with our indoor growing systems, any school and any site can grow the produce needed for her recipes regardless of having access to a garden or not, INDOORS!