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ICD 2023 1

International Chef’s Day inspires young minds to make healthier food choices

At Nestlé Professional, our dedication to culinary excellence extends beyond the plate. 

Every year, on October 20th, we join hands with Worldchefs to celebrate International Chef’s Day, an event where chefs around the world inspire and educate children about the joys of cooking, learning about growing food, choosing ingredients, and healthy eating through interactive workshops.

In 2022, over 421 events took place around the world with over 3’700 chefs and almost 96’000 children. This remarkable turnout showcases the passion that our chefs and partners have for inspiring young minds and shaping a brighter and healthier future.

This year’s theme is ‘Growing Great Chefs’ to welcome all enthusiastic young chefs to the wonderful world of delicious cooking food and positive eating habits. “We are excited about the Growing Great Chefs theme and to seeing the engagement and involvement of this program continue to grow. Our chefs are as excited as the kids are, which is always a sign of good things to come!” says Emmanuel Lorieux, Nestlé Professional global executive chef and global culinary partnership manager.

This annual celebration gives chefs around the world a chance to work closely with children to educate them on the significance of maintaining a nutritious diet. Moreover, it presents an excellent opportunity to introduce young, passionate chefs to the delightful realm of culinary arts and cultivate healthy eating habits that will endure for a lifetime.

A toolkit with posters, recipe cards, workshop tips, games, and educational resources are available. Included in the toolkit is a balanced plate guide, designed to inspire youth to create healthy and balanced meals, using combinations of different food groups in the right proportion. Around the world events are organized around the themes of cooking workshops, nutrition education, food safety awareness, farm visits, food art and creativity, and cultural culinary journeys.

Since its creation by the late Chef Dr. Bill Gallagher in 2004, International Chef’s Day has been a platform to teach children about the role of food in promoting health, wellness, and sustainability.

"The impact of this celebration goes beyond just one day; every minute we spend with a child is an opportunity to leave a lasting impression that will last a lifetime” explains Vanessa Marquis, Chairperson of Worldchefs International Chefs Day Committee.

This initiative forms part of the Nestlé for Healthier Kids program (N4HK) which brings together all efforts to support parents and caregivers to raise healthier kids and inspire children themselves. The N4HK program promotes healthy eating and lifestyle habits for children aged 3 to 12.