Rockland Country Day School Chef Cooks Her Way to Washington, DC

Local Chef Rose Walker was invited to the White House June 4 to sign the "Chefs Move to Schools" initiative, which strives to educate students across the nation about nutrition and healthy eating.

Rockland Country Day School's  Chef Rose Walker, co-creator of the school's "Eat Healthy Now" program, visited the White House June 4. Her special invitation was extended through the Department of Agriculture's new initiative "Chefs Move to Schools," which partners chefs with schools nationwide in order to educate students about nutrition.

  Walker and 1,000 other chefs from across the country gathered on the White House's South Lawn to sign a pledge demonstrating their commitment to the "Chefs Move to Schools" campaign and take a photograph with First Lady Michelle Obama.

  With so many fast-food choices offered in schools today, educators need to teach children that real, nutritious foods can also be delicious, says Walker, explaining what the "Eat Healthy Now" campaign is all about. Walker and her staff design RCDS's menu and prepare the school's daily meals, which include entrées like teriyaki salmon and turkey shepherd's pie. In addition, she speaks to students about the importance of eating non-processed food, especially while in school. "The mind and body are intrinsically connected," Walker says. "Without good nutrition, our children will not reap the benefits of learning."