Food Service Provider Sees Nutrition Education as a Recipe for Success in DCPS and Future Generations
By Jada Ingleton
(Source The Washington Informer)
With a commitment to equality, food and facilities management provider SodexoMagic serves as a catalyst for change in nutrition education and quality of life across District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), as well as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Launched in 2006 by the food service company Sodexo and NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, SodexoMagic has since expanded to over 6,500 employees and 1,770 sites in corporate, healthcare, education, and aviation. The organization works with K-12 institutions to provide food security solutions and management through service programs and utilizes audience engagement initiatives that offer students a chance to be directly involved in shaping a healthy environment in their schools.
“Because we believe in the power of school communities to create an uplifting sense of belonging for students, we believe passionately in the power of fantastic, responsibly sourced scratch-made food to bring people together and elevate wellbeing,” said Stacie Reiter, SodexoMagic’s national director of Nutrition. “This helps solidify that important foundation for a healthier future, both for our students and their communities.”
Reiter emphasized students and young audiences are a priority target for dietary wellness and health education, citing the importance of foundational lifelong habits, cognitive and academic growth, and social and economic benefits, such as positive impacts on mental health and self-esteem.
Initiatives such as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Magic Kitchen, the Future Chefs competition, and more help forward SodexoMagic’s mission of hands-on learning in classrooms, interactive engagement in culinary practices, and finding opportunities to learn more about how to combat communal issues like child obesity and food insecurity.
“Our desire is not only to serve our students nutritious meals for that day, but to teach them how to make healthier eating choices that will impact their success in and outside of the classroom for the rest of their lives,” said Reiter.
SodexoMagic doesn’t seem to be slowing down. In May, Johnson took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to say he and his wife convened with various company leaders and partners and were excited about plans for the future.
“Cookie and I had an amazing dinner with my company executives and amazing business partners from Sodexo and Sodexo Live! tonight, where we discussed the great momentum we created in 2024 and how we’ll carry that into an even better 2025 and beyond!”
For more information on SodexoMagic and how to join their fight for quality of life, visit sodexomagic.com.
