Quest Food Management Services Awards CATCH a One-Year Sponsorship

March 7, 2024  | By CATCH Global Foundation

Partnership will create healthy food environments for 10 schools

Quest Food Management Services, a nationally ranked food service management company headquartered in Illinois, has been a long-standing partner of our efforts. We are thrilled to announce a new collaborative project through their generous sponsorship.

During the 2025-2026 school year, we will provide family engagement resources focused on healthy habits, nutrition curriculum, and professional development training to educators across 10 schools in Illinois. As part of the family engagement component, Quest Food Management Services will also provide prize money for a contest this spring for participating schools to encourage students and families to learn about and practice healthy behaviors together. Additionally, on April 16, 2024 we will host a webinar for educators across the country on the latest research-based best practices in youth nutrition education.

The significance of this project holds deep importance especially as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently notes that childhood obesity is a serious health problem in the United States where 1 in 5 children and adolescents are affected. Given that children spend most of their day in school, it is important to reach students in their environment and equip educators with the needed resources to make learning fun inside and outside of the classroom.

“Healthy food at schools should be paired with nutrition education and a lunchroom environment conducive to celebrating smart food choices,” notes Duncan Van Dusen, CATCH Global Foundation Founder & CEO. “We are delighted to partner with Quest Food Management Services to bring all of these best practice elements together in several of their schools.”

Educators at participating schools will receive a subscription to CATCH Health Ed Journeys, which covers national health education standards, and employs the latest science, design, and pedagogy for K-8 health education. Curriculum includes the GO-SLOW-WHOA food classification system, which is known worldwide. Professional development will not only consist of training educators on curriculum implementation, but also on best practices for trauma-informed and culturally sensitive nutrition education.

“The lasting health and wellness of students is our top priority and we’re thrilled to expand our impact through this partnership with CATCH,” said Nick Saccaro, President, Quest Food Management Services. “Bringing our dining services team together with educators and families, allows us to provide nutrition support that extends beyond the cafeteria.”

Through our shared goal with Quest Food Management Services to create healthy food environments for schoolchildren, educators will receive support in order to promote wellness champions on campus and sustain a school culture that prioritizes health long beyond project completion.

To learn more about Quest Food Management Services and their dedication to nutrition education and all-around health and wellness for students, please visit their website.

Health Ed Journeys is accessible through a free preview by contacting our team.