Garrett Berdan is a registered dietitian nutritionist and chef who has worked with school nutrition programs since 2009. His role with the Institute of Child Nutrition is Education and Training Specialist for the Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition. Garrett’s tenure in school nutrition includes consulting, culinary training, quantity recipe development, food communications, and marketing services. He has prior experience as a specialist with the Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs and recently gained operations experience as the menu planner and an area supervisor for Spokane Public Schools. In 2002 Garrett graduated from Washington State University’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Garrett enrolled in the Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone to enhance his foodservice skillset. He was honored with the CIA Award for Culinary Achievement upon completing the certificate program in 2005. In 2014 Garrett began serving on the national advisory committee for Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids, an initiative of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), and he continues to be involved with the CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative. Garrett is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, including the School Nutrition Specialists and Food and Culinary Professionals Dietetic Practice Groups. In 2011 The White House honored Garrett as a Champion of Change for his work with school nutrition programs and Chefs Move to Schools. Garrett’s experience with Chefs Move to Schools is featured in First Lady Michelle Obama’s book American Grown. Growing up in Wenatchee, Washington, family time often meant working together in their apple and cherry orchards, and tending to beef cattle. This exposure to agriculture gave Garrett an appreciation for the hard work that goes into producing nourishing foods.