From Food Deserts to Food Education

K-12 STEAM education

South LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

In Los Angeles, students in Title 1 schools often face daily food insecurity, poor access to fresh ingredients, and no structured nutrition education. Over one million Californians—45% low-income—live in food deserts with few affordable grocery options. Children are growing up without the knowledge to identify ingredients or prepare basic meals. One instructor noted, “Some kids had never had crepes before and this lesson was a good way to show them from beginning to end.” These gaps in food literacy and access contribute to rising childhood obesity, chronic health issues, and poor academic performance. School meals are often the only food students receive and they are frequently under-portioned, highly processed, and unfamiliar. This issue disproportionately affects BIPOC and low-income communities, with long-term consequences for students’ physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Without early access to food education, the cycle of poor health and limited opportunity continues.

This grant will allow Lunch Bunch Community Foundation to expand our subsidized hands-on culinary enrichment program to Compton School District, reaching 1,000+ new students. Each week, students will participate in after-school cooking classes that include nutrition education, basic culinary skills, and healthy meal preparation. Every child will make a full meal to take home, helping bridge the school-to-home nutrition gap. This initiative unfolds in five parts, making our approach unique and innovative: Partnerships, Curriculum Development, Certified Teacher Training, Program Delivery, and Evaluation. By incorporating certified educators and the expertise of a chef, the program ensures high-quality instruction and the integration of culturally sensitive recipes, fostering a deeper connection to cultural heritage and community health. For high school students, the program includes food safety, resume-building, and exposure to culinary careers. Most food programs focus on access or awareness—ours does both through experience. With LA2050 funding, we will hire and train 30 teachers, serve 1,000+ students, and provide over 3,000 meals. Lunch Bunch Community Foundation is built to scale via our mobile equipment, bilingual curriculum, and strong district partnerships. We’re not just feeding students—we’re building a generation of confident, healthy eaters.

If successful, Lunch Bunch Community Foundation will spark a shift in how youth in LA County—starting with Compton—engage with food, health, and opportunity. In the short term, over 1,000 high school students will gain hands-on culinary skills, nutrition education, and mentorship in food-related careers, directly addressing food insecurity and health inequities. Students will take meals and lessons home, influencing family behavior and sparking healthier habits across households. Trained teachers and portable curriculum will create a sustainable model for expansion. In the long term, we aim to scale this program to Title 1 schools countywide, empowering thousands more students with the tools to cook, eat well, and consider careers in food, hospitality, and wellness. By bridging food access and education, we are growing a generation of confident, health-conscious youth who will shape a more nourished, equitable, and economically vibrant Los Angeles.