Program Area

Youth Nutrition

Supporting school food leaders in serving the most nourishing, delicious food possible.

What

Collaborating with school leaders that are committed to serving the best food possible, Life Time Foundation helps school districts navigate the many barriers to positive systemic change. We provide free ingredient analysis software, Green Onion, the guidance of a registered dietitian, make grants to fund culinary trainings and capital equipment purchases, help measure and track progress, and much more.

Our relationships are custom fit and long-term, supporting the real heroes as they make sustainable progress toward a healthier future for the kids they serve.

Why

When children are nourished with delicious, nutritious, minimally-processed food their minds and bodies have the opportunity to flourish. But too many of our nation’s children are under-nourished, putting them at risk of a variety of physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional chronic diseases.

There is no more effective, efficient way to positively impact kids’ nutrition across the country than through our nation’s public school food programs and a movement is growing to assure that school food is as delicious and nutritious as possible.

Life Time Foundation is proud to work, alongside incredible partners, at that movement’s forefront.

Impact

To date, Life Time Foundation has given $7.5 million to connect 508 school districts, 10,930 school sites and 6.3 million students to healthier, more nourishing school meals.

Green Onion

Green Onion is free software that helps school districts serve the most nutritious and delicious food possible to the students in their care.

Strategic Partnerships

National Farm to School Network +

The National Farm to School Network is an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities working to bring local food sourcing, school gardens and food and agriculture education into schools and early care and education settings. The National Farm to School Network provides vision, leadership and support at the state, regional and national levels to connect and expand the farm to school movement, which has grown from a handful of schools in the late 1990s to approximately 67,300 schools in all 50 states as of 2019. Our network includes partner organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Territories, thousands of farm to school supporters, a national advisory board and staff. Learn more at farmtoschool.org.

ScratchWorks +

ScratchWorks is a collective of school food professionals and non-profit organizations committed to supporting school districts in cooking school meals from scratch using whole, fresh ingredients that provide students with the nutrition they need for their educational success, health and wellbeing. Learn more at wearescratchworks.org.

Urban School Food Alliance +

The Urban School Food Alliance was created by school foodservice professionals in 2012 to address the unique needs of the nation’s largest school districts. As a 501©3 nonprofit, we share best practices, develop procurement strategies, and advocate for the health and wellness of students. Learn more at urbanschoolfoodalliance.org.

Back to Basics Partnerships

Through custom fit relationships, we work with Back To Basics partners to support them in serving the best food possible in school.

Process +

While grantmaking is a central component of our Youth Nutrition Program, it is more accurate to say that Life Time Foundation “supports partners” than simply “funds grantseekers.”

Generally, Life Time Foundation Partners can expect:

  • That we will work to understand the ingredients in all food products they serve, then help them remove ingredients of concern and ultra-processed foods from offerings.
  • That we will help them identify and develop delicious, nutritious, minimally-processed alternatives, which may include scratch and speed-scratch cooking.
  • That we may provide funds if required to make change.
  • That we may help them tell the stories of their efforts with relevant stakeholders, including parents, kids, school staff, school boards, and the media.

Eligibility +

Partnership applications are received and reviewed on a rolling basis. We are most likely to accept as a partner and move forward with a school district that:

  • Participates in the USDA National School Lunch Program.
  • Has the support of key internal stakeholders (e.g. food service directors, superintendents, and school boards) in removing ingredients of concern and moving toward minimally-processed food in schools.
  • Self-operate their foodservice programs.
  • Are located in the geographic areas where Life Time team members live and work.

First Step

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Life Time Foundation Nutrition Program Partner, your first step is to contact the Nutrition Program team to submit an inquiry.

Our Partners

Grant Recipients +

Our partners are our true champions in delivering our mission, so that every child receives the most nourishing food possible

Austin Independent School District, TX

Boulder Valley School District, CO

Cincinnati Public Schools, OH

Denver Public Schools, CO 

Detroit Public Schools Community District, MI

Emporia Public Schools, KS

Fayetteville Public Schools, AR

Lake County School District, CO

Laveen Elementary School District, AZ

Minneapolis Public Schools, MN

Minnetonka Public Schools, MN

Napa Valley Unified School District, CA

New York City Department of Education, NY

Novato Unified School District, CA

Osborn Elementary School District, AZ 

Roseville City School District/Dry Creek Joint Elementary, CA

Creating Your Kitchen +

In collaboration with the AZ Department of Education’s Health and Nutrition Services Team, Chef Ann Foundation, and Whole Kids Foundation, Creating Your Kitchen is a two-phase program designed to provide 10 Arizona school districts with the expertise and support needed to reclaim their kitchens and menus as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

Alhambra Elementary School District

Antelope Union High School District

Casa Grande Elementary School District

Concordia Charter School

Litchfield Elementary School District

Oracle School District

Palominas School District

Phoenix Elementary School District

Queen Creek Unified School District

Washington Elementary School District

Minnesota School Food Initiative +

In partnerhsip with Chef Ann Foundation, an initiative to provide resources and guidance to the leaders of school nutrition programs in Minnesota, to eliminate highly processed and manufactured foods from school meals, while increasing capacity and ability to provide scratch cooked meals.

Brooklyn Center Community Schools

Inver Grove Heights Schools 

South Saint Paul Public Schools 

Get Schools Cooking +

In collaboration with Chef Ann Foundation, Whole Kids Foundation, and The Gateway Fund, Get Schools Cooking is an intensive 3-year assessment and strategic planning program that provides schools with the operational knowledge to transition from a heat & serve to scratch cook operational model.

Buford City Schools, GA

Watertown Public Schools, MA

Brewster Central School District, NY

Fridley Public Schools, MN

Tempe Elementary School District, AZ

Resources

Tools for School Food Leaders.

Tools for Parents.