Among young people ages 2 to 19, 31.8 percent are considered to be either overweight or obese, and 16.9 percent are considered to be obese, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Childhood obesity comes with an estimated price tag of $19,000 per child when comparing lifetime medical costs to those of a normal-weight child, according to an analysis led by researchers at the Duke Global Health Institute and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore.

The good news comes from the Centers for Disease Control: If kids get 50 hours of cooking education before they are 12, it will change the way they think about food. Edible Education founder and CEO Chef Ann Butler is determined to teach thousands of children across America how to prepare real food, and love every minute of it.

You can help: On Dec. 1, 2015, Butler put out a call for sponsors to help bring her message to a national audience.

Here’s why: Not only are two of her students starring on the Food Network’s “Chopped Junior” competition on Jan. 5, but also dozens more are being considered to star on other national television shows.

“The reason is simple,” says Butler. “We have the single-minded goal of providing them with the confidence to feel comfortable enough in the kitchen that they can prepare anything they want, including steamed artichokes, quinoa cupcakes, and mac-n-cheese with cauliflower puree. We are practicing stealth health.”

The benefits of sponsorship: By sponsoring Edible Education’s Kitchen a la Cart™, you  will be supporting the manufacturing of thousands of mobile kitchens — a turnkey learning system that teaches students ages 5-15 how to cook real food.

In addition to being used in schools nationwide, the Cart will also be sold to libraries, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, nonprofit organizations, daycare centers, hospitals, prison systems, and military bases worldwide. And, it will be purchased by backyard chefs and tailgaters in need of a fantastic outdoor cooking system.

Your company logo will be featured on the Carts, and in Edible Education’s marketing materials (website, brochures, etc.).

Here are 3 ways that sponsoring Kitchen a la Cart™ can benefit your business. It can:

• Grow your customer base due to additional exposure.
• Drive sales to your website. 
• Channel your values with Edible Education’s passion to create a healthier generation.

Contact: Ann Butler, CEO,
Founder of Edible Education, 
ann@edibleedu.com, 804.218.7903, 
www.edibleedu.com.

Testimonials for Edible Education:

“Nearly 1 in 3 overweight or obese kids under the age of 18 faces the threat of early heart disease because of their weight. The American Heart Association applauds Edible Education for helping children (and adults) develop healthy eating habits that will bring lifelong benefits.” — Michelle McLees, Director, Marketing and Communications, American Heart Association

“Thank you so much for participating in Kids Club at Short Pump Elementary School! We loved having Edible Education as part of our program, and the students really enjoyed your classes. Thanks to you and your friendly and knowledgeable chefs for making the classes a fantastic offering!” — Lee Dolan, SPE Enrichment Programmer, Board Member, Children’s Science Museum

“Edible Education is a fantastic means of incorporating STEAM concepts into your curriculum. Learning through cooking teaches the critical science, creativity, and math skills needed to compete in the global workforce.” — Christina Hollingsworth, GE