Welcome to Pilot Light’s Feeding Minds blog! Here, we get to tell the story of Food Education through in-depth stories from our classrooms, partnership spotlights, new program announcements, and opinion pieces from guest authors and the Pilot Light team. Join us in exploring the power of food to connect, excite, and empower us to build a better future together.
March 18, 2016
By PilotLight
FamilyFarmed’s Blog Post on Chef Paul Kahan and Pilot Light
The Chicago nonprofit FamilyFarmed wrote about Paul Kahan’s accomplishments in anticipation of the nonprofit’s Good Food Festival. FamilyFarmed is honoring Kahan by giving him the “FamilyFarmed’s Good Food Chef of the Year” award. Learn more here!
Read More >>March 14, 2016
By PilotLight
Pilot Light: Reintroducing the Language of Food
For this week’s blog post, we want to share some insight on Pilot Light’s mission and what we aim to accomplish in our partner schools throughout Chicago. Check out this video by Whimsy City Productions and Spring Creative below to hear from our founding chefs Matthias Merges (Yusho, Billy Sunday, A10 Hyde Park) and Jason
Read More >>March 13, 2016
By PilotLight
Lifeway Joins Pilot Light to Feed Minds and Fuel Appetites!
The Pilot Light Chefs were back in the classroom earlier this week, bringing their unique nutrition education program and approach to Chicago-area elementary school students at Disney Magnet II. As proud and enthusiastic sponsor of Pilot Light, members of the Lifeway team were on hand to help with chef-led lessons, serve a tasty and nutritious
Read More >>March 3, 2016
By PilotLight
Pilot Light Chefs Takeover Classrooms & Cafeteria at Disney II Magnet
This week, our Pilot Light Chefs teamed up with teachers at Disney II Magnet Elementary, our founding school, to create lessons that built food into what students were already learning in the classroom. Even more, the chefs developed and served a delicious, healthy lunch to the students! Some of the great chef-led lessons included learned
Read More >>February 23, 2016
By PilotLight
Chattin’ with Our Chefs: Favorite Food Movies
Once a month on our blog, we want to give you a backstage pass to our Pilot Light Chefs with our new “Chattin’ with Our Chefs” series. We’ll feature fun Q&A’s that ask our chefs for their advice on all sorts of topics, like how to make better schools lunches or stock a home pantry.
Read More >>February 15, 2016
By PilotLight
A Look Inside One of Our Lessons from a Teacher’s Point of View: Ms. Halligan, 5th Grade
Our partner schools will start a new round of Pilot Light lessons in the month of February. To kick it off, we want to give you a glimpse on the impact that our lessons have on our partner school students through the eyes of one of our teachers. Meet Ms. Halligan, one of the 5th
Read More >>February 14, 2016
By PilotLight
Valentine’s Day Chocolate Panna Cotta Courtesy of Pilot Light Chefs Amy Biller, Matthias Merges and John Vermiglio
Try making this delicious chocolate treat with your family this Valentine’s Day! Yield = 6 servings INGREDIENTS: 2 teaspoons Unflavored Powdered Gelatin 2 3/4 cups Whole Milk 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Sugar 1/4 teaspoon Salt 6 ounces Chocolate chips PREPARATION: 1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the powdered gelatin over 1/4 cup of the milk and
Read More >>October 15, 2015
By PilotLight
Catalyst Chicago Writes Pilot Light Bringing Healthier and Tastier Lunches into Chicago Public Schools
The independent magazine that reports on Urban Schools wrote about Pilot Light in a news post. They mentioned our chefs’ endeavor to prepare lunch for all of the students in Chicago Public Schools just for a day. Learn more here!
Read More >>September 3, 2015
By PilotLight
Pilot Light Receives Grant from Tengelsen Family Foundation
Pilot Light is excited to announce that we received a generous grant from The Tengelsen Family Foundation, an organization known for their contributions in giving grants to charitable organizations and institutions that promote child nutrition and mental health. This grant is dedicated to the development Pilot Light’s educational media which will be provided to teachers
Read More >>July 20, 2015
By PilotLight
6 Pieces of Food Advice for Parents: #1
Hello Pilot Light parents! Its Lucy here again, having just stumbled upon a cool article from The New York Times. It is titled ‘6 Food Mistakes Parents Make.’ However, I have made the decision to rename it for a more positive approach. Pilot Light presents ‘6 Pieces of Food Advice for Parents.’ Here is the
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