More than one in ten households in the US experience hunger or the risk of hunger. Many of the most affected are children. Studies show that an early childhood spent in hunger creates a higher risk of chronic illness and mental and behavioral problems—often leading to a self perpetuating cycle of need later in life.
Chef Mary Ellen Diaz knows firsthand about the power of food. Trained at l’Ecole des Arts Culinaires, Diaz loves food for its ability to create connections and memories. She also values nutrition at its purest: comfort food and local organics.