Child Nutrition Partners
A Journey of Passion and Purpose. This is my why!
a morning meal, miss less school, make fewer trips to the nurse, and have higher test scores. Health and education are linked. Children who are well nourished and healthy are more likely to be ready to learn and retain daily lessons. This is my why! I want to ensure students have access to meals that will aide in creating a path to success! Leading the No Kid Hungry Illinois body of work has allowed me to shift gears. I have taken a deeper dive supporting statewide efforts by focusing on the high need areas with a targeted approach. This includes incorporating the race and equity lens when prioritizing target areas. I am also beyond happy to have been part of the granting process which resulted in the distribution of over $1.1 million in grants to support Covid-19 emergency relief efforts between April 2020 – December 2020 in Illinois. Taking a step back to reflect has allowed me to look at the work I do and re-evaluate how I can better support children’s nutrition in a more meaningful way. This challenging year has presented opportunities to engage and build relationships with community, school district leaders, elected officials and school nutrition advocates. Access to meals has been challenging for years and observing how Food Service Professionals (who are truly ROCKSTARS) overcome obstacles to provide meals is amazing. My cup is filled with joy which encourages me to continue to advocate for access, policies and equity for children’s nutrition.
No Kid Hungry Illinois Monique Batteast, MBA Life has a funny way of remixing your passions and taking you on a journey that will allow you to fulfill your dreams with purpose. In high school I fell in love with cooking and aspired to become a chef. While completing my B.S. degree in Hospitality Management something happened that would change the path I envisioned for myself, an internship! I would quickly learn the kitchen and I did not mix well together but I very much loved the hospitality industry. After graduation I took an HR position at a hotel chain. Realizing this did not bring me joy and eager to tap into my extrovert personality while making a difference, I landed a manager trainee position. The position was with a contract foodservice company that allowed me the opportunity to work in children’s nutrition. Fast forward to today I am happily working at the Greater Chicago Food Depository where I lead the No Kid Hungry Illinois Campaign in partnership with Share Our Strength. Working to end childhood hunger in Illinois, we ensure all children get the healthy food they need every day through technical assistance and grants. Historically, the driving force was to increase breakfast participation statewide. We focus on bringing awareness to the importance of starting the day with breakfast. Studies show when breakfast is served, many more students eat
The perfect portable solution for your school feeding needs!
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Monique Batteast is the Senior Manager of Children’s Nutrition Advocacy and Outreach for No Kid Hungry Illinois at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Monique leads statewide and local efforts to eliminate child hunger by developing and implementing strategies to increase access to federal nutrition programs including school breakfast, summer and after-school meals. To accomplish her goals, Monique works to build partnerships with governmental entities, school districts, food service providers, and community organizations. Before the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Monique served extensively with schools and food services providers. Her previous roles include Operations Manager for University of Chicago Charter Schools, Unit Manager for Sodexo USA, and School Dining Manager for Compass Group USA. Monique Passionately lends her voice to speaking engagements on child nutrition programs nationwide. Monique earned her Bachelor Degree in Hospitality Management from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a MBA from Concordia University.
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MADE IN AMERICA
Monique Batteast MBA
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