While we have always been a foodservice company committed to serving food that is alive with flavor and nutrition, we didn’t start out with a strong team of nutrition professionals to help make that happen. The first dietitian to join the company is now Vice President of Food Education and Wellness, Terri Brownlee, MPH, RDN, LDN. She started as regional nutrition manager in 2002 and was actually our client before joining our team. “When I started at Bon Appétit most chefs and managers didn’t know what to do with a dietitian in the kitchen and wellness was just “nice to have,” Terri says. “However, over time higher expectations around wellness engagement and the need for more food transparency became clear. We’ve worked hard to build strong chef-dietitian collaboration and carve a path for dietitians to contribute tremendous value in the kitchen and beyond.”
Now over 20 years later, Bon Appétit has more than 30 dietitians, diet techs, and wellness team members, including four executive wellness chefs, across the country – making an impact in accounts across the nation. From supporting our operational teams on regulatory and food allergen issues and helping drive plant-forward menus to creating customized wellness solutions and providing our guests with fun opportunities to embrace healthful habits, our wellness professionals (who also pride themselves on being foodies btw) are truly part of the heartbeat of our kitchens.
Looking back on our journey, it’s clear that the contributions of our nutrition and wellness teams have been instrumental in making Bon Appétit the success it is today. We are proud to have built a strong team of nutrition professionals who are dedicated to promoting nourishing and more sustainable food choices for our guests. As we celebrate National Nutrition Month® and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, we are excited to see what the future holds for our nutrition and wellness teams, and we look forward to continuing to work together to improve the health and well-being of our communities.