10.28.2019
Fostering Youth Food Education with Pilot Light
The Spice House partners with Pilot Light to bring chef-led food education to schools. Learn how spices, donations, and events foster healthy food habits.
- The Spice House partnered with Pilot Light to help bring chef-led, food-based lessons into classrooms that align with academic standards.
- The Spice House committed over $25,000 and is the lead sponsor of Pilot Light’s Feed Your Mind Gala, and helped promote a featured dukkah recipe on WGN.
- Pilot Light’s program improves kids’ food knowledge and confidence: 93% learn how food affects health, 78% feel able to make healthier lunch choices, 89% ask parents about food.
The Spice House has always strived to make a positive impact for our customers and their surrounding communities. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Pilot Light.
Co-founded in 2010 by four renowned chefs: Paul Kahan, Matthias Merges, Justin Large, and Jason Hammel, Pilot Light is a Chicago-based nonprofit that connects chefs with teachers to create food-based classroom lessons. Pilot Light’s goal is to support children with the knowledge and attitude to have a healthy relationship with food. For students without access to fresh, affordable, and well-prepared food, making healthy choices is a challenge. This is especially true in Chicago where childhood obesity rates are nearly twice the national average.
The Spice House and Pilot Light are two like-minded organizations collaborating to bring food education to every child in every school. In accordance with academic standards and the Pilot Light Food Education Standards, Pilot Light partners such as The Spice House co-develop classroom lessons incorporating food and nutrition education into subjects like science, math, and social studies. The Spice House will develop a curriculum featuring spices and their transformative ability to create delicious flavors for healthy foods. At The Spice House, spices are more than just ingredients; they’re windows into global cultures and storied traditions.
Pilot Light has had a profound impact on its students. After completing the Pilot Light curriculum, 93% of kids better understand how food choices can impact their health, 78% of kids feel like they could make healthier choices in their school lunch room, and 89% of kids can confidently ask parents how healthy their food was.
Our owners have already committed over $25,000 to help support Pilot Light’s cause. As part of our $25,000 commitment, The Spice House is the lead sponsor of Pilot Light’s annual Feed Your Mind Gala. To help promote this charity event, Pilot Light’s founder Justin Large featured The Spice House and our fresh spices to make a flavorful Middle Eastern Cashew Cacao Dukkah on WGN’s Lunchbreak. You can view the recipe and segment by clicking on the link below.
The Spice House invites you to help support Pilot Light’s mission with us. Click on the link below to visit Pilot Light’s website and make a direct donation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pilot Light?
Pilot Light is a Chicago nonprofit started in 2010 by chefs Paul Kahan, Matthias Merges, Justin Large, and Jason Hammel. It pairs chefs with teachers to create hands-on, food-based lessons that teach kids how food affects health and culture.
How is The Spice House involved with Pilot Light?
The Spice House is a partner and major donor. Owners committed more than $25,000 and the company is the lead sponsor of Pilot Light’s Feed Your Mind Gala. The Spice House also helps develop spice-focused curriculum and promoted a featured recipe on WGN.
What do Pilot Light classroom lessons look like?
Lessons use food and cooking to teach core subjects like science, math, and social studies. Teachers work with chefs to build standards-aligned, hands-on modules that use real ingredients and culinary techniques to make healthy food appealing.
What results has Pilot Light achieved with students?
After the curriculum, 93% of students better understand how food choices affect health, 78% feel they could make healthier choices in the school lunchroom, and 89% feel confident asking parents about how healthy their food is.
How can I support or donate to Pilot Light?
You can donate through Pilot Light’s website, attend or sponsor the Feed Your Mind Gala, or give time, resources, or spices. Visit Pilot Light’s site for donation options and sponsorship details.
Can my school or classroom take part in Pilot Light?
Yes. Pilot Light partners with teachers and local chefs to bring lessons into schools. Visit Pilot Light’s website to learn about partnership opportunities and how to request programming for your school.
Where can I find the Middle Eastern Cashew Cacao Dukkah recipe featured by The Spice House?
The Spice House shared the recipe and the WGN Lunchbreak segment via links in their announcement. Check The Spice House website or the Pilot Light event pages to view the recipe and video.
What is Pilot Light?
Pilot Light is a Chicago nonprofit started in 2010 by chefs Paul Kahan, Matthias Merges, Justin Large, and Jason Hammel. It pairs chefs with teachers to create hands-on, food-based lessons that teach kids how food affects health and culture.
How is The Spice House involved with Pilot Light?
The Spice House is a partner and major donor. Owners committed more than $25,000 and the company is the lead sponsor of Pilot Light’s Feed Your Mind Gala. The Spice House also helps develop spice-focused curriculum and promoted a featured recipe on WGN.
What do Pilot Light classroom lessons look like?
Lessons use food and cooking to teach core subjects like science, math, and social studies. Teachers work with chefs to build standards-aligned, hands-on modules that use real ingredients and culinary techniques to make healthy food appealing.
What results has Pilot Light achieved with students?
After the curriculum, 93% of students better understand how food choices affect health, 78% feel they could make healthier choices in the school lunchroom, and 89% feel confident asking parents about how healthy their food is.
How can I support or donate to Pilot Light?
You can donate through Pilot Light’s website, attend or sponsor the Feed Your Mind Gala, or give time, resources, or spices. Visit Pilot Light’s site for donation options and sponsorship details.
Can my school or classroom take part in Pilot Light?
Yes. Pilot Light partners with teachers and local chefs to bring lessons into schools. Visit Pilot Light’s website to learn about partnership opportunities and how to request programming for your school.
Where can I find the Middle Eastern Cashew Cacao Dukkah recipe featured by The Spice House?
The Spice House shared the recipe and the WGN Lunchbreak segment via links in their announcement. Check The Spice House website or the Pilot Light event pages to view the recipe and video.
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