Imagine a dining program being key to the holistic development of the people it serves. Let’s call it a dining program with purpose – one where nutritional excellence and deliciousness blend with greater ideals such as body/mind wellness and community building. Here, unexpected benefits can emerge.

Wellness and Mental Health Support

How does a dining program attune to the total wellness of its customers? By recognizing the important link between nutrition and mental health. Science can now track how the food we eat effects our bodies and minds. Chemicals released from microbiome in our stomach travel up the vagus nerve[i] and greatly influence our brain for good and bad. This is Your Brain on Food,[ii] a recent book by Dr. Uma Naidoo MD, is a fascinating read on the subject. What are the best choices for mind and body health? Whole foods, lots of fresh produce and clean protein, and a reduction in highly refined foods and sugars.

Educational Opportunities

Another A+ marker is a dining program which also serves as an educational platform, offering employees and students opportunities to learn about topics important to health such as nutrition, food sustainability and culinary arts. Kitchens can host cooking classes, offer new food tastings, and brown bag discussions that nourish in unconventional ways. Gardening initiatives and farm-to-table experiences are also markers of excellence and personal growth, promoting both environmental awareness and deeper connections to community and world around us. Specifically for students, an A+ program can integrate food concepts into course work like science or geography, offering interdisciplinary connections with hands-on learning opportunities.

Cultivating a Sense of Community

Your dining program can and should play a significant role in cultivating a sense of community. Everyone likes hanging out in the kitchen! Imagine a well-designed dining space that people want to come to; comfortable, bright, and welcoming. One that says make yourself at home. A+ spaces are designed for multi-purpose possibilities that support not just feeding people but also the social interactions and peer bonding between them. Whether it’s family-style dining and themed meals, or just a nice space to gather for group projects and meetings after eating, look to create a café that draws people in at all times of day.

Embracing Diversity and Inclusion

Finally, A+ dining programs celebrate diversity and inclusion, accommodating dietary, as well as cultural needs of those it serves. You want a kitchen that actively asks and honestly listens to feedback, and transfers that work into culturally relevant menu and event designs. Today’s top kitchens should be well-versed in the international influences of their patrons and [iii]work hard to celebrate these various cultural traditions with special food events and holiday celebrations.

Through initiatives such as these, your dining program can serve a deeper purpose, contributing to the physical health, emotional well-being, social savvy, and cultural awareness of all employees and students.

[i] Cleveland Clinic, 2024.

[ii] This is Your Brain on Food, Uma Naidoo, 2020.