Five Elementary School Finalists Selected from Among 5,000 Nationwide Entries in the Sodexo Future Chefs: Healthy Sandwich Challenge Which Showcases Nutrition and Wellness Learnings

Gaithersburg, Md. April 28, 2014 /3BL Media/ — Sodexo, a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations, announced today the five finalists for its Future Chefs: Healthy Sandwich Challenge.

The finalists are all elementary school students from Sodexo-served school districts across the country, and each created videos of their own healthy sandwich creations which can be seen on a dedicated YouTube channel. Visitors to the site are encouraged to view the finalist videos and vote for their favorite recipe today at http://bit.ly/SodexoFutureChefs. Public vote will determine the 2014 national winner. Voting is open for one week from Monday, April 28 through Sunday, May 4.

The five Sodexo Future Chefs: Healthy Sandwich Challenge national finalists are:

• Matthew Aguilar – Lawton Public Schools in Lawton, OK
• Nicole Garrity – Windsor Locks Public Schools in Windsor Locks, CT
• Noeli Hernandez – Liberty Hill Independent School District in Liberty Hill, TX
• Meredith Moore – Milton-Freewater Unified School District in Milton-Freewater, Ore.
• MaryJane Ware – Troy School District in Troy, Mich.

“The country’s 52 million students in the U.S. spend more time at school than any other place outside of their homes,” said George Chavel, president and CEO, Sodexo North America. “ It’s an enormous opportunity for Sodexo to support education partners in more than 500 school districts with nutrition, health and wellness learning opportunities, particularly for elementary students, in order to help shape healthy eating habits at an early age.”

The Sodexo Future Chefs program, which is in its fourth year as a national event, creates positive behavioral changes in students by enabling them to get actively involved in good nutrition. More than 2,000 students, representing approximately 1,000 Sodexo-served schools in 30 states, were selected to participate in 110 local events.

The winning student recipes were considered by a collection of Sodexo K-12 chefs to narrow the field to 35 regional winners, who were further evaluated by a panel of judges to select the five students who would advance to the program’s national phase.  Finalists were selected based on the originality, presentation, ease of preparation, kid-friendliness, and healthiness of their recipes.

Programs like Future Chefs represent examples of Sodexo’s commitment to health, wellbeing and support for the districts and communities it serves.  Another example is Sodexo’s recent work with the Partnership for a Healthier America.  In addition to other pledges, the company committed to offering more free breakfast meals in schools and increasing the selection of healthier, more nutritious options in its vending and K-12 lunchroom programs.

Visit Sodexo on Facebook and follow on Twitter @SodexoUSA

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About Sodexo
Founded in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo serves 75 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Through its more than 100 services, Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over more than 45 years of experience: from reception, safety, maintenance and cleaning, to foodservices and facilities and equipment management; from Meal Pass, Gift Pass and Mobility Pass benefits for employees to in-home assistance and concierge services. Sodexo’s success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 428,000 employees throughout the world.

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Life services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Services in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $22 million in grants to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at blogs.sodexousa.com.