iBites Podcast: Recent Episodes
Institute of Child Nutrition
The Institute of Child Nutrition is proud to present the podcast, iBites, where you will learn about all aspects of child nutrition programs. From research to resources, from oral histories to best practices, each iBites will feature a wealth of information to help promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition programs.
What does it really take to move a school meal program from freezer-to-oven to scratch-cooked? In this episode of iBites, host Shannon FitzGerald, PhD, RDN sits down with Jeanne Reilly, School Nutrition Director for RSU 14 in Windham and Raymond, Maine, for an honest, inspiring conversation about scratch cooking from the ground up.
Jeanne shares how a community visioning grant sparked the idea of hiring a permanent district chef — a role that’s been transforming her program for 12 years — and how she built staff buy-in, sought culinary training, and navigated the very real challenges of making real food work at volume for 3,300 students across six schools.
Her advice for anyone wanting to start? Baby steps. One recipe, one success at a time. Her definition of scratch cooking for students? “Delicious, real school food fuels students for learning.”
In this episode of iBites, host Shannon FitzGerald sits down with Maria Patiño, a school nutrition manager with 17 years of experience at Manor ISD — a fast-growing district just outside Austin, Texas. Maria shares how she went from walking into the district office unannounced with a 9-month-old in tow to becoming the district’s go-to manager for catering and summer feeding operations.
Meet Rhiannon Mejia, a Child Nutrition Supervisor in Texas who oversees 10 schools including elementary, middle, and high schools with innovative bistro concepts. Rhiannon shares her inspiring journey from restaurant management to school nutrition, motivated by her own childhood experiences and desire to ensure every child has access to meals. She discusses her leadership approach grounded in empathy, open communication, and patience—lessons learned from an impactful mentor. Rhiannon also highlights her district’s successful Manager-in-Training (MIT) program that identifies and develops rising leaders, including how her colleague Lisa (featured in a companion episode) trained her and continues to train new managers today.
Chef Andrew Urbanetti traded Harvard Law School's dining room for the school cafeterias of Boston — and he's never looked back. In this episode, recorded live at the 10th Farm to Cafeteria Conference, Andrew shares the story behind Boston Public Schools' new Central Kitchen, what it felt like when a student encountered whole-muscle turkey for the first time, and how his team is building trust with families through halal and kosher programs, local sourcing partnerships, and scratch cooking at scale. If you believe school food can be extraordinary, this one's for you.
Lisa Strine is a Child Nutrition Manager in Fort Worth, Texas, who brings retail training expertise and 18 years of school nutrition experience to her role—where she serves 780 meals daily and maintains an impressive student participation rate. As her district’s in-house trainer and compliance expert, Lisa prepares new managers for success through hands-on MIT (Manager in Training) camps while ensuring her own team stays audit-ready and confident. In this episode, Lisa shares her journey from retail management to school nutrition passion, reveals why production records are her “kitchen Bible,” and offers candid advice on navigating administrative reviews, batch cooking operations, and the inevitable equipment failures. Her leadership philosophy? Train your staff so well they could take over your job, take one deep breath when stress hits, and never forget that you can’t do this work alone.
This podcast episode is about the real work of school nutrition leadership. In this episode, we explore how a kitchen manager builds strong teams, engages students, and creates menu programs that balance nutrition standards with student appeal. Practical strategies are shared for staff development and motivation, creative approaches to menu marketing and student engagement, and proven methods for increasing meal participation. From career inspiration to day-to-day leadership challenges, this conversation offers valuable insights.
In this episode, Crystal Beers shares her approach to leading her staff and making sure all her students are fed with a smile and warm greeting.
On this episode of The Mix Up, Patrick Garmong sits down with Leah Botko, who shares her journey from starting in food service as a teen to leading school meal programs in Massachusetts—and now stepping into a new role in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.Leah reflects on career growth, mentorship, and the impact school nutrition leaders can have in shaping healthier, more engaging meals for students. Her story offers both inspiration and practical takeaways for anyone working in child nutrition.
In this episode, Rosalynn Ordanez will share her best-kept secrets for keeping staff engaged and motivated. Rosalynn is a compassionate leader for her school nutrition team.
On this episode of The Mix Up, Patrick Garmong sits down with Leah Botko, who shares her journey from starting in food service as a teen to leading school meal programs in Massachusetts—and now stepping into a new role in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.Leah reflects on career growth, mentorship, and the impact school nutrition leaders can have in shaping healthier, more engaging meals for students. Her story offers both inspiration and practical takeaways for anyone working in child nutrition.
We are honored to have chef Kevin Jenkins, Executive Chef at Garland ISD in Texas, on our latest episode of “The Mix Up”! Dive into an engaging conversation where Chef Kevin shares his culinary journey, innovative school meal programs.
Don’t miss out on Chef Kevin’s insights and passion for creating nutritious and delicious meals for students. Tune in now and be inspired by his dedication to making a difference in the community!
CulinaryJourney #SchoolMeals #ChefKevinJenkins #TheMixUpPodcast
Music: Dirty Gertie by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
We are thrilled to have Nick Vedia, the District Sous Chef of Virginia Beach City Public Schools, on our latest episode of “The Mix Up”! Dive into an engaging conversation where Chef Nick shares his culinary journey, innovative school meal programs, and the vibrant food culture of Virginia Beach.
Don’t miss out on Chef Nick’s insights and passion for creating nutritious and delicious meals for students. Tune in now and be inspired by his dedication to making a difference in the community!
CulinaryJourney #SchoolMeals #ChefNickVedia #TheMixUpPodcast
Music: Dirty Gertie by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 25 – Nicholas Vedia first appeared on Institute of Child Nutrition.
In this episode of The Mix Up, Patrick Garmong talks with Patrick Kenneally, who moved from hospitality to significantly influence school nutrition as the
Capital Region BOCES Shared Foodservice Management, School Lunch Director, in New York State. They discuss overcoming the complexities of district-wide food service management, the shift towards local, scratch-made meals, and the critical roles of staff training and grant utilization. Kenneally’s move to the Chef Ann Foundation highlights the vast potential in school nutrition for career advancement. This conversation is essential for those interested in the evolution of school nutrition and the impact of collaborative efforts.
Music: Dirty Gertie by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 24 – Patrick Kenneally first appeared on Institute of Child Nutrition.
Join The MixUp as we sit down with Jason Tepper. Tune in for an inspiring journey of taste and knowledge, serving up an episode that’s too flavorful to miss.
Music: Dirty Gertie by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 23 – Jason Tepper first appeared on Institute of Child Nutrition.
Join The MixUp as we sit down with Eric Span, the visionary Director of Nutrition Services at Sweetwater Union High in San Diego! Discover Eric’s unique blend of hospitality and nutrition experience that transforms school meals into sustainable, nutritious, and educational delights for students. Tune in for an inspiring journey of taste and knowledge, serving up an episode that’s too flavorful to miss.
Music: Dirty Gertie by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 22 – Eric Span first appeared on Institute of Child Nutrition.
Join Chef Patrick as he welcomes back Missy Poirier, the Nutrition Services Director of Jurupa Unified School District, for an insightful conversation about changing roles and advancing in the ranks of Child Nutrition Programs. Hear firsthand about Missy’s journey from district chef to her current role and gain valuable insights into the world of school nutrition. Don’t miss this exciting episode of our podcast!
Chef Patrick sits down with Chef Jason Hull Director of Culinary Services/Founder of Culinary Farm at Marin Country Day School. Join them as they chat about Chef Jason’s work to develop a culinary culture in his program. Listen to his mission to inspire healthful eating for the children in his program.
On this episode, we welcome Chef Samantha Cowens-Gasbarro, Executive Chef of Healthy School Recipes and a Child Nutrition Consultant. Learn about her fantastic work bringing culturally important recipes to the schools in her home state of Maine.
Join Chef Patrick as he chats with Stephen Menyhart, Chef, Register Dietician, and Child Nutrition champion. Learn how, and more importantly, why, Stephen began his journey in child nutrition. Hear his story of personal and professional growth in the industry he calls home, child nutrition.
Join Chef Patrick as he Mixes it Up with Bettina Applewhite, Sr. Operations Supervisor, Southwest Area, Baltimore County Public Schools. In this episode, they chat about serving diverse communities, school nutrition as a career path, Bettina’s experience on Bravo’s Top Chef Amateurs, and more!
In this episode, Chef Patrick mixes it up with Chef Rachel Gooding, Senior Research Chef, CCS ® McCormick & Co., Inc. Join them as they chat about the good works of the McCormick Science Institute and how to develop flavorful foods with less sodium. This is an episode you truly can’t miss. [Read More]
Chef Patrick is back on the mic, and this time he is joined by Chef Ryan Yarnell, Nutrition Services Chef with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Listen in as they discuss how MNPS has continued to serve students despite staffing shortages, supply-chain issues, and more.
Welcome to iBites! The ICN podcast. This episode of iBites is a discussion about ICN’s Applied Research Division and its research processes. Host Patrick Butler is joined by ARD’s Interim Director Dr. Marjuyua Lartey Gibson. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to Podcast
Garrett Berdan and guest Erin Primer, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for San Luis Coastal Unified School District, taste California-grown finger limes and discuss the importance of creating memorable food experiences for children.
Welcome to iBites! The ICN podcast. This episode of iBites is an update of ICN’s Applied Research Division’s (ARD) recently released research. Host Patrick Butler is joined by ARD’s interim director and research scientists. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to Podcast
CICN's Garrett Berdan interviews Ben Atkinson, Assistant Director of Child Nutrition, Auburn School District in Washington state.
Welcome to iBites! The ICN podcast. This episode of iBites is an update of ICN’s upcoming and recently released projects. Host Patrick Butler is joined by ICN’s Education and Training Specialists. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to Podcast
Chef Patrick is joined by Warren DeShields, Director of Food Services Bridgeton Public Schools. Listen as they discuss their journey to child nutrition and the work the Bridgeton Public Schools team has done to close the food insecurity gap during the pandemic. Warren also shares how their district is using online ordering for [Read More]
Join Chef Patrick Garmong and Chef Devinder Kumar of Wonderful College Prep Academy. Chef Devinder shares how he and his team move forward to bridge the food insecurity gap while serving nutritious and delicious global cuisine. In addition, Chef Devinder sheds light on his journey to the child nutrition world and the impact [Read More]
In this episode of The Mixup, Chef Brandon Durio of Cherry Creek School District shares his experience being welcomed into school nutrition by a forward-thinking program director who saw the benefits of hiring an executive chef. In Chef Brandon’s 8 years in the district he has provided culinary training, introduced new menu items, [Read More]
Join Chef Patrick and Chef Dan Giusti as they discuss Dan’s pathway from restaurant chef to the Child Nutrition field. Hear how Dan has helped reshape Child Nutrition kitchens from a heat-and-serve production model to a more scratch-based approach to preparing delicious food for students.
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 09 – Dan Giusti appeared first on Institute of Child Nutrition.
Chef Patrick chats with Aaron Smith, Director of the Seattle Public School District. Join them as Aaron discusses how Seattle Public Schools has been serving students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 08 – Aaron Smith appeared first on Institute of Child Nutrition.
Chef Patrick chats with Matthew Poling, Executive Chef for the Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6. Join them as Matthew discusses how his team has navigated serving meals during the COVID-19 Pandemic. They also chat about Chef Matthews’s path to the child nutrition field.
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 07 – Matthew Poling appeared first on Institute of Child Nutrition.
Chef Patrick chats with Michelle Poirier, Supervisor of Central Kitchen Production for the Palm Springs Unified School District. Join them as Michelle discusses how her team has navigated the new school year. She also discusses how her team has been accommodating meal needs for children with disabilities.
The post The Mix Up Podcast – Episode 06 – Michelle Poirier appeared first on Institute of Child Nutrition.