Ahimsa

Such exciting progress here at the School Nutrition Association annual national conference in Boston … We are having important conversations about our food system and health outcomes for students in the USA with nutrition directors from all over the country! We even got to meet the school directors (Colorado Springs, Emery Unified and countless others) who are leading the nation with Ahimsa’s Conscious Cafeteria Program ❤️🙌🏾🌎 Science has confirmed that plastic chemicals are harmful to children’s health and so is the ultra processed food that often is served in or on plastic. We want to go back to where we came from - just in the 1950s, we were serving scratch cooked meals in school kitchens and serving them on reusable materials. That was before the days of epidemics of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. And if you are wondering if our food system and these pediatric health epidemics are related … YES THEY ARE!! It’s time to go back in time and serve our children fresh food on safe sustainable materials to keep them healthy … and their planet Earth healthy. I’m hopeful and inspired by the wonderful nutrition directors we have met here at #ANC2024 and feel that there is a path forward to reverse these horrible trends in my pediatric patients that I have seen over the past two decades. Let’s do it. FOR THE KIDS 👊🏽 (If you are here at the conference come to our booth -1348!) #anc2024 #schoollunch #cleaneating #zerowaste #plasticfree #pediatrician #dietician #nutrition #schoolnutrition #greenschools #farmtoschool Rachel Bernier Chef Ann Foundation Center for Environmental Health Plastic Free July PlasticFreeRestaurants.org PEYO COMPANY Plastic Pollution Coalition ReThink Disposable Cafeteria Culture Urban School Food Alliance National Farm to School Network Center for Green Schools

I’m so honored to be on the 2024 Inc. Magazine Female Founder 250 List that was just announced today. As a Pediatrician who embarked on a mission to advocate for children’s health outside of just the hospital walls … I took a chance on myself and a little idea in my head back in 2019. I had no idea about what it would take and definitely no business knowledge or experience. But sometimes the mission is just too important and you are compelled to do something even if you are scared. I have found that female founders are awe inspiring - balancing motherhood, professional careers and everything in between. I have so much respect and admiration for any founder or small business owner. I truly was unaware of the grit and dedication it takes to create something out of nothing and ride the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship. I salute you fellow founders! So ladies … if you have an idea - bet on yourself. It’s the best investment you can make. #founder #founders #femalefounders #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #startup #smallbusiness #cleanliving #incmagazine #physicians #doctor #cpg #schools #education #sustainability #plasticfree #entrepreneurship

When I was training to be a Pediatrician, I never expected my professional career would include being a business owner and a speaker. But now I see how my path took me from advocating and caring for a child’s health expanded to advocating and caring for children’s health at scale! I was honored to be on a panel at the National Basketball Association (NBA) amazing All Star Weekend in my hometown of Indianapolis. The topic was Diverse Women in Business for their Crossover Conversations event. Thank you to the NBA and the Pacers Sports & Entertainment for supporting me as a local female minority founder and allowing me to share Ahimsa’s mission with the public. Our goal is to educate and empower families and schools to make healthier choices for themselves and the one planet we all call home. Thank you Mel Raines - the CEO of the Pacers for the opportunities you have given our small business. You are the epitome of women supporting women. A big shout out to Kelly Krauskopf the assistant GM of the Pacers who serves as a true inspiration for women paving the way for those behind her. She is a trailblazer and I was so honored to share the stage with such an icon in sports. Nadian Zak and Olivia West - it was so great to meet you and hear your amazing journeys as strong women in business. So proud of what you have done and can’t wait to see where you go next! I’m excited to watch! Most inspiring quotes of the panel: “Dream big because anything is possible” “Take a bet on yourself” “Start by giving yourself a start” And last but not least - way to go INDY! I’m so proud to be a part of such an amazing city. The weekend was glorious and as we say … in 49 states, it’s just basketball - but this is INDIANA 🏀 #femalefounder #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #nbaallstar2024 #pacers #trailblazer #equalopportunities #womeninsports #physician #womenowned #indy #indiana #indianapolis #indianabusiness #downtownindy

Thrilled to be featured in IndyStar! ✨ Listen to Matthew to talk more about what makes PataSchool so important in fighting childhood hunger, and follow this link to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gf3icRyP 📚🍎 #PataSchool #SchoolKitchensWithAMission #ThePatachouFoundation

It’s Diwali Season!!! If you are looking for gifts, please check out this amazing celebration box that we collaborated in with the best brand ever - Brooklyn Delhi by Chitra Agrawal and designer @anjali mehta. You can find these yummy achars, chutneys and sauces at a grocery store near you (seriously my favorite) but this gift box is a limited edition so grab it while it lasts!

🎉 GOOD NEWS ALERT: toxic chemicals like #PFAS and #BPA are no longer on the menu! 👩🏾🍳 We partnered with Clean Production Action to develop the GreenScreen Certified Standard for Reusables, which eliminates many of the concerns associated with single-use foodware and cookware such as exposure to toxic chemicals including PFAS or “forever chemicals,” bisphenols (like BPA), and phthalates which have been shown to affect fertility and have been linked to cardiovascular problems. The standard also sets clear criteria for reusability and requires strict testing to ensure any recycled materials used in food packaging, service ware, cookware and food containers, contain no known hazardous chemicals. This new safety standard is critical for ensuring that consumers as well as restaurants, schools, hospitals, and businesses are empowered to embrace the reusable revolution with products made with preferred chemistry. Congrats to Ahimsa - the first company to achieve GreenScreen Certified status for its stainless steel reusable food service ware! 💪🏽 This is GREAT news for human health, and the health of our planet! 🌍 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/geU6MNjj

We are actively #hiring! Know anyone who might be interested?

I had the great honor to speak at the Clinton Foundation annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) today. It was a surreal moment in which I truly felt that Ahimsa was embarking on a journey to lead an impactful mission nationally: simple scalable transformation in our school cafeterias towards REUSE. It’s truly that easy. I am proud to announce that Ahimsa is a 2023 CGI Commitment Maker - our commitment is to decarbonize school cafeterias by transitioning them to reusable steel foodware and improve student environmental health knowledge through our custom educational curriculum - we are turning the cafeteria into a classroom! Our partners IMPS The Smurfs, Plastic Pollution Coalition and The Orchard School are helping us empower schools to tackle the single use problem today while educating our children to act tomorrow. Our pilot will take place in New York City, but we will continue our model of The Conscious Cafeteria throughout the country. Please reach out to us if you know schools that are interested or you want to sponsor a school! (Just fill out the contact us form at ahimsaschools.com/cgi) Thank you Chelsea Clinton for the shout out and nominating your New York City school to join our program! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Thank you to Mark Del Monte at American Academy of Pediatrics for all the important work you do to advocate for children and Nsedu Witherspoon at Children's Environmental Health Network to ensure that our children have a healthy and sustainable future ahead. And as always - thanks to my fellow physician entrepreneur bestie Zabina Bhasin M.D. from In KidZ for being by my side as we advocate for children together. Lastly - Aarti Tandon and Michael Blake thank you for guidance and support as Ahimsa starts our journey of social impact at scale. This has truly been one incredible week.

Did you know Ahimsa has a school line to transform cafeterias into a reusable model that protects our planet and our children’s health? So excited to announce that Colorado Springs School District choose the strength of steel to last for decades of school lunch ahead for their students. Thank you to the food service team for putting student health and sustainability at the top of your priority list. You are officially following the American Academy of Pediatrics health policy statement to use glass or stainless steel to serve food. Bravo 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Welcome to our Ahimsa family and congrats on becoming a more Conscious Cafeteria! Please share this post with all school leaders and parents you know so they too can join the mission to encourage cleaner greener healthier schools cafeterias. 🌎